In the Long Run

Set in the historical Old City in Ibb Yemen In the Long Run is built around a simple premise burdened by the nearing arrival of guests a housewife sends her kid to buy bread before lunch But this errand soon transforms into a wondrous adventure As Sevenyearold Ahmed runs determinedly through the alleywaysconstantly distracted by the people and events or perhaps nonevents around himhis journey becomes both a delicate observation of the familial community of Ibb and an intimate voyage through the Old Citys endangered architecture and beautiful landscape While Ahmed plays beads with other kids stumbles into a funeral and listens to folktales narrated by an 82yearold the looming question of whether hell make it home before lunch grows larger Performed by city locals In the Long Run presents gentle conversations about fear fate and faith Yet most importantly it is a story of a childs imagination curiosity and wonder