The Bitter Orange

Saadia is a lonely, hopeful girl living with a strict father and a loving mother in an old house. Her life centers on simple routines, outings to the orange groves, and a longing for a life and partner she imagines with Amine. When Amine is engaged to someone else, her heartbreak becomes a defining wound that shapes her choices and fate.

Amine is a handsome, disciplined policeman whose calm exterior hides a sensitive, perceptive side. He is initially firm with Saadia but is moved by her passion and the idea of marmalade. His engagement to another woman and the social duties that follow create a conflict between duty and desire, which only deepens after the hidden letter is revealed in the hospital.

Mother is a protective and somewhat secretive figure who guards the family’s privacy. She keeps the letter that would reveal Saadia's feelings hidden from Amine's family, adding a layer of mystery and highlighting the influence of family ties on the narrative. Her presence embodies tradition and care within the household.