When Maryam Spoke Out

When Maryam Spoke Out (لمّا حكيت مريم) is a 2001 Lebanese film directed by Assad Fouladkar and based on a true event that happened in Lebanon.

It is a social story about a couple, Ziad and Maryam, who lead a happy marriage, except for the fact that after three years of marriage Maryam has still not had a baby. Her husband Ziad is compassionate and assures her, that he still loves her. Nonetheless, Maryam cannot escape the growing pressure from the family, especially from her mother-in-law. She reacts to it in her own way with a false pregnancy. The initial enthusiasm and care is quickly gone when it becomes clear they are not really expecting a baby.

When Maryam Spoke Out is Fouladkar's first feature film.

Synopsis
After three years of happily married life, Ziyad and Maryam feel the social pressure to have a child. Their previously happy relationship becomes poisoned when it is discovered that Maryam is infertile.

Cast and characters

 * Bernadette Hodeib as  Maryam
 * Talal El-Jordi as Ziyad
 * Renée Dik
 * Umaya Lahoud
 * Joseph Abu-Dames
 * Randa Alam

Awards

 * Best performance by an actress for Bernadette Hodeib at the sixth Biennale des Cinemas Arabes, 2002, Paris, France.
 * Best Film and Best performance by an actress for Bernadette Hodeib at the Carthage Film Festival, 2002, Carthage, Tunisia.
 * Best Film and Best performance by an actress for Bernadette Hodeib at the Alexandria Film Festival, Egypt
 * Best actress for Bernadette Hodeib, Critics Award and the Golden Dagger for Assad Fouladkar at the Muscat Film Festival, 2003, Amman.