Three women in Jordan live in isolation – not by choice, but out of fear of further violence. Their home is their refuge, but it is also a prison that separates them from the outside world. What does it mean to live a life in the shadows? How do you find strength in the midst of pain?

Helin Çelik's documentary addresses a reality that often remains hidden. ANQA is an intimate exploration of the survival strategies of these women, whose stories are told not in words but in images. The camera focuses on faces, hands, movements – observing without intruding, allowing the protagonists to speak in their own time.

The film opens with lines by the Persian poet Rumi about the mythical bird Anqa, which stands for rebirth and renewal. This metaphor runs through the entire film and reflects the women's desire to dare a new beginning despite the traumas they have suffered. Their stories are marked by pain, but also by resilience and the hope of a self-determined life.

ANQA premiered in the Forum section at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival. Critics praised the poetic imagery and sensitive approach to a difficult subject. The camerawork by Raquel Fernández Núñez was particularly highlighted, as it portrays the protagonists in striking close-ups.