DUBAI: Saudi actress Sarah Taibah has been soaking up Sweden’s charms after the Scandinavian tour of her latest film.
Hosted by Saudi Film, part of the Kingdom’s Ministry of Culture, Taibah offered fans a glimpse into her travels when she shared a series of candid moments from her time there earlier this week.
Her posts captured quiet, everyday scenes, from strolling through leafy parks and browsing DVD shops to eating oysters and walking along the waterfront. She is also seen sitting on benches beneath blooming trees, embracing the beauty of the Nordic spring.
The trip followed the regional tour of “A Matter of Life and Death,” directed by Saudi filmmaker Anas Ba-Tahaf, as part of this year’s Saudi Film Nights.
The tour brought the film to audiences across Scandinavia, with screenings in Oslo and Helsinki, where Taibah joined viewers alongside the film’s team. In a social media post, organizers said they were “honored and delighted” to participate, inviting audiences to experience the film during its international run.
The movie premiered at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah last December and attracted significant attention, including from British actor Nicholas Hoult. It generated buzz as an example of the growing influence of female-led cinema in Saudi Arabia.
Backed by the Red Sea Film Fund, the film has been praised for highlighting romance as a dynamic new genre in the Kingdom. The initiative also reflects Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand its film industry and bring local storytelling to global audiences.
Described as a quirky love story set in Jeddah, the film follows Hayat, a woman convinced she will die on her 30th birthday, and Yousef, a brilliant but troubled heart surgeon grappling with dark impulses. Their entwined fates create a story that balances tragedy with unexpected romance.
Speaking at the festival, Taibah described the project as a “romantic dark comedy,” adding she felt both “scared and excited” for audiences to see it, highlighting its bold tone and fresh approach within Saudi filmmaking.
