Mareike Engelhardt’s Rabia: A Gripping Thriller Set in a Women’s House in Raqqa

Mareike Engelhardt’s Rabia, a thriller set in a women’s house in Raqqa, will be released on November 27, 2024. Check out our review and trailer.

A True Story of Indoctrination and Survival

This is a story about a Moroccan woman, Faitha Mejjati (alias Oum Adam), who ruled several women’s houses in the Islamic State in Raqqa, Syria. Although her name is never explicitly mentioned, Lubna Azabal’s presence in Mareike Engelhardt’s first feature film, Rabia, is undeniable.

A Young Woman’s Descent into Captivity

19-year-old French girl Jessica (Megan Northam) was drawn to Syria to join Daesh by the promise of a new life. After arriving in Raqqa in June 2014, she joined one of the women’s houses and soon found herself a captive of the glamorous director’s wife (Lubna Azabal).

A Lesser-Known Side of the Islamic State

The film reveals a lesser-known side of the Islamic State, one that has never been seen before. These are the Daesh fighters’ wives, who prepare the interior of the house in a way that is both shocking and intriguing. In these scenarios, we are shocked to see that these women (when the men are not present) dress in European style, smoke cigarettes, and even try on daring lingerie in the hope of winning the hearts of their future husbands.

A Descent into Madness and Torture

However, Jessica’s promised husband died in battle, and she was renamed Oum Rabia (meaning “anger”) after her arrival. This marked the end of playtime: she was trapped in a women’s prison. The film then transitions to a terrifying closure environment, where a kind of abnormal relationship developed between the lady and Jessica. Lubna Azabal’s performance is both dominating and cruel, as she portrays the role of an all-knowing regent driven by a lust for money and pain.

The Making of a Torturer

The film explains the process of making a torturer, in a way that is reminiscent of the Stanford Experiment. After weeks of abuse and deprivation — and Megan Northam’s stunning performance — Jessica went from victim to abuser.

A Glimmer of Hope

Mareike Engelhardt’s film is fast-paced, grim, and gripping. At the end of the film, she offers a glimmer of hope for these indoctrinated women (in the form of a card). However, the women remain imprisoned in the Al Hol refugee camp.

Mareike Engelhardt’s Rabia Trailer:

Coming soon.