Premiering for the first time at the 8th edition of the Gouna Film Festival, and directed by Sarah Rozik, “Love, Imagined” is a portrayal of love, loss, & grief. It tells a deeply emotional story that makes audiences feel emotions they might not have even realized were there.
The film explores themes of grief, personal growth, passion, and the void that comes with loss, while reflecting on how love can both heal and hurt.
The Plot
The film follows two lovers, Warda (Mayan El Sayed) and Noah (Omar Razeq), who study together at the Academy of Arts. A new professor, Dr. Youssef (Ahmed El Saadany), returns to Egypt after years abroad, still haunted by the death of his wife. His presence is distant and strict, yet filled with unspoken sorrow.
After a fight between Warda and Noah, Noah believes he has fallen for a mysterious girl living in the building across from his. By coincidence, it turns out to be Dr. Youssef’s home. He later discovers that the girl he has been watching is not real, but a doll created by Youssef to resemble his late wife.
Warda then begins to spend more time with Dr. Youssef, wanting to help him heal while also hoping to fix her relationship with Noah. As she does, she starts developing feelings for her professor, who reminds her of her boundaries and his grief.
The music that flows throughout the film, and the way the actors express their emotions through songs and melodies, adds richness to the atmosphere and heightens the emotional impact of the story.
Through these emotional connections, Love, Imagined reflects the purity of love and the lengths people go to preserve it. It also captures how grief can strip life of its meaning, and how human connection can bring that meaning back.
Warda becomes a symbol of light in Youssef’s life, showing him that there is still beauty in the world even after deep loss. At the same time, her relationship with Noah mirrors the struggles many young couples face when they start to grow in different directions. Warda becomes more focused and mature through her studies and work in the film industry, while Noah remains impulsive and carefree, unable to understand her transformation.
The Setting
The story unfolds in Cairo, a city that carries warmth, nostalgia, and familiarity. Through Sarah Rozik’s direction and Mohamed Gad’s cinematography, the city becomes more than just a setting. It feels alive, full of texture, and deeply connected to the characters’ emotions.
The Academy of Arts appears beautifully on screen, with its architecture and atmosphere adding depth to the story. Love, Imagined marks the feature debut for both Rozik and Gad, and together they manage to create a film that is visually poetic and emotionally grounded.
Performances
Every actor in the film delivers a performance that feels authentic and unfiltered. Ahmed El Saadany shines as Dr. Youssef, portraying a man torn between grief and the possibility of feeling again. Mayan El Sayed brings both strength and vulnerability to Warda, while Omar Razeq captures the raw confusion of young love. Their chemistry on screen feels genuine, full of tenderness and conflict.
Exploring Boundaries and Change
One of the film’s most powerful choices is showing men and boys practicing ballet, breaking stereotypes, and portraying the art as something that belongs to everyone. The scene feels natural and adds to the film’s message about emotion, vulnerability, and expression.
Behind the Film
Love, Imagined is produced by Red Star (Baho Bakhsh and Safie El-Din Mahmoud), written and directed by Sarah Rozik, and stars Ahmed El Saadany, Mayan El Sayed, and Omar Razeq, alongside Seif Hamida, Farida Ragab, Afaf Mostafa, and others.
Final Thoughts
Love, Imagined is a gentle and heartfelt film that speaks to anyone who has ever loved deeply, lost someone dear, or outgrown a relationship that once felt eternal. Love, Imagined, is a portrayal of love, loss, and grief. It reminds us that love, even when it hurts, is what makes us human, and that from grief can come a new understanding of what it means to truly live.