"Laila's Birthday" has a very simple plotline and is made with an obviously low budget, but delivers a beautiful message to the audience 's everything will be all right in the end.
The film's message is particularly poignant for Balts as they seek meaning in the madness that has swept through the three countries in the last six months.
"Laila's Birthday," set in Palestine, is screening as part of the Gala film festival in Vilnius. The film depicts a day in the life of Abu Laila, the father of eight-year old Laila, the film's namesake.
Abu Laila is an out of work judge who, because of political instability, is now forced to drive a taxi around the city to make ends meet. He is constantly confronted with the rigmarole of life and struggles to reconcile his high morals with the realities of everyday people.
At the start of his day, he is asked to pick up his daughter's birthday cake and a gift. Not only that, he has to bring home enough money to support his family.
Among others he meets a young couple intending to fornicate in his taxi, an ex-convict, a penniless pensioner and the wife of a dead man whose car was blown up in a rocket attack.
In trying to do the right thing by everyone except himself, Abu Laila finds himself terribly out of sorts and unable to complete his daily tasks.
Just as he thought nothing more could go wrong, he ends up in a confrontation on the street and snaps. He drives home in a daze having left Laila's cake and present at the shop.
As he arrives home, Abu Laila realizes that he hasn't managed to do what he was asked to. A little improvisation and a bit of luck, however, ensure that Laila's birthday will have a happy ending after all.
The film runs much like a fable and reminds the audience to keep their priorities straight.
Though the low budget camera work, which is obviously done on video not film, can be distracting at times, this funny comedy is a joy to watch.
