Khalid is the security guard in an abandoned Qatari elementary school. The camera follows him during a day as he makes his rounds through the empty classrooms and encounters remnants of the neighborhood’s past residents. Some of his discoveries remind him of the life he has left behind in Egypt. The title, « Stranger », comes from the Arabic word « ghareeb » – a word that Khalid used to describe himself during the making of this film.

Special Jury Mention, Ajyal Festival 2020.

Directors’ statement

In the historic heart of Doha, Qatar’s capital, the Msheireb neighbourhood has been evacuated over the last 10 years to give way to new property development projects. It is the epicenter where different worlds collide.

On one side, brand new ultra luxurious buildings with hotels, offices, apartments and schools, designed to bring local Qatari families back into the heart of the city.

On the other side, a bustling street where Indian, Pakistani, Nepali, Sri Lankan communities live, shop and pray, while expecting to be evicted at any time.

Right in the centre of this neighbourhood remains an old elementary school that was frequented by Qatari students. It was later used to store artefacts collected over the years to preserve the memories of those who were living around. It is now about to be transformed into a residence for designers and fashion creators.

In the meantime, it is an empty space where security guards rarely welcome visitors. In one conversation the security guard jokingly said that if someone were to break into the school he would invite them over for tea because he is so bored of looking after the dust.

« Stranger » is a journey into this school and its past. It is also a poetic portrait of an immigrant, someone who’s left their family and friends in their home country and followed the opportunity of a better salary abroad. Someone who gave up their life in order to earn it. And someone who’s waiting for an uncertain future like everybody else in the neighbourhood.