11-05-2025
Mahmoud Zain's LOVE BITES Dares to Ask: Can a Woman Even Die Without Being Judged?
In many Arab societies, a girl's life isn't really hers. Her choices belong to her family. Her body becomes their 'honor.' And if she steps out of line, even in secret, it's not just her story at stake, it's their reputation. But what happens when that story comes out after she's dead?
LOVE BITES, a short film from director Mahmoud Zain, follows two brothers, Zaher and Murad, who find themselves in conflict over how to perform the ritual washing and shrouding of their deceased sister, Hayam, after discovering love bites on her body. Fearing a scandal as well-wishers and mourners begin to arrive outside, the two brothers and their wives must make a decision that may affect the entire family.
Director Mahmoud Zain flips the script with a series of hard-hitting questions: 'What if that body belonged to a woman in a male-dominated society? And even more troubling, what if the discovered matter concerned 'honor?' Would this woman be granted her most basic rights: To be washed, shrouded, and buried according to religious customs? Or would those around her exercise their patriarchal authority and the power of tradition, driven by fear of scandal, disregard the sanctity of the deceased and her rightful rites?'
The film stars well-known actor Sedky Sakhr and had its premiere at the Aswan International Women Film Festival — a platform that's all about stories by and about women, and the voices that usually get shut out.
LOVE BITES isn't just a film: It's a conversation starter. It throws a spotlight on the harsh truth of how society controls women, even in death. The film dives deep into the pressure women face, constantly having their lives and choices dictated by others. It's all about questioning those outdated traditions that judge women based on their bodies and actions, even after they're gone.
The title alone makes you want to know more, but it's the story that hits you hard. Mahmoud Zain challenges the toxic cycle that tries to erase a woman's truth and replace it with a narrative decided by everyone else.
Mahmoud Zain is an Egyptian filmmaker who majored in pharmaceuticals before deciding to study directing at the High Institute of Cinema in 2019. He worked as a screenwriter on several series within writing workshops, such as the Egyptian drama THE GODFATHER 1 and the Saudi series BADR'S WILL. LOVE BITES is his directorial debut.
