The Primitive Streak (التلم البدائي)

Docu-Fiction, Experimental, Super 8mm.
12 mins
2023
United Arab Emirates

A geologist Nada visits the Al Wathba Salt Lakes and Fossil Dunes in Abu Dhabi. She is on the search to find new life and explore old life. In the salt lakes, a bacteria lives in the emerald waters glistening with high salt concentrations. In the fossil dunes, the wind has sculpted the sands in petrified formations. Nada recognizes familiar souls in these sculptures. She hears a familiar voices coming from one of the imposing dunes, feeling a connect to these remains or traces of once living plants and animals.

Inspired by the formation of the ‘Primitive Streak’ is one of the key events in the early development of amniote embryos. Featuring biologist Dareen Almojil.