Summary

The short film “Baghdad Express” by Nimer Rashed follows Maya, a young girl who works in her father’s restaurant. Maya is shown going to an interview, which we later learn was for a scholarship at a fashion school. 

The film continues in the Baghdad Express restaurant’s kitchen, where Maya is chatting with another employee, Talal. Talal encourages Maya and wishes her good luck with her interview. In another scene, Maya is talking to her friend Louise about going out and being a dreamer. Back home, Maya is shown giving her father an injection. 

The interviewer asks Maya why she is passionate about fashion. Maya thinks about a memory of her and her mother sewing together. Another scene shows that Maya’s father does not know about the interview and that he disapproves of Maya spending time with Louise and Talal. 

The father fires Talal, which upsets Maya. He then apologizes to Maya and hires Talal back. Maya gets a letter from the fashion school but hesitates to open it. The interviewer asks Maya if she will be able to commit to the course fully, and she thinks about her father. The ending shows Maya burning the unopened letter, and then refusing to go out with her friend Louise. 

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