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Rent-a-Mama

synopsis

Nuhad (Lebanese, 60) is a very traditional supermom with a big heart and a big fear of change. She lives in her immigrant bubble in NYC and prides herself on her excellent cooking, creative home remedies and outstanding meddling skills. The main target of her maternal smothering is her middle daughter Tala (30), a struggling artist who still lives at home. When their continuous clashes escalate to a critical confrontation, Tala decides to finally move out. With her husband Farid (70) busy at work, her son Ziad (35) in California and her youngest daughter Sarah (20) studying in Boston, Nuhad finds herself alone in her empty nest. When her grandson (12) introduces her to RENT-A-BLANK, an app where people can offer any service for rent, Nuhad’s venture begins: RENT-A-MAMA. Chaos ensues as the comedic encounters with her liberal genZ clients will challenge her conservative mentality but eventually open her eyes to her own life, leading her on a journey of transformation and self-discovery.

Director’statement

Rent-a-Mama is inspired by my aunt in Beirut who never coloured outside the lines and only defined herself by her role as a mother and housewife. By throwing her into a hyper-progressive environment, away from everything she knows, I wanted to imagine her coming into her own and discovering the truest version of herself. With Nuhad, a middle-aged Arab, full-bodied woman as the protagonist, and her experiences, struggles and desires at the center of the story, Rent-a-Mama brings about a much-needed change in the TV landscape. It also gives a platform to a diverse, open-minded yet misunderstood youth, creating an important bridge between two opposing worlds, fostering empathy and understanding between generations. The inherent comedy comes through these interactions, but the story will always be rooted in Nuhad’s emotional journey of emancipation and the evolution of her strained mother/daughter relationship with Tala.

TFL PROGRAMME:
SeriesLab 2023

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