A teenage refugee discovers a magical ring with a wish-granting djinn and attempts to change his family's tragic past, only to learn that some events are destined to repeat no matter how he tries to prevent them.

SYNOPSIS:

The story follows Saeed, a 16-year-old refugee living in a camp with his mother Amal. After being chased by bullies, he discovers a magical ring containing a Djinn (a spirit) that grants wishes. With his first wish, Saeed asks for the bullies to leave him and his friends alone. This results in the death of the main bully, Hassan.

For his second wish, Saeed asks to return to life before the war. The Djinn grants this wish, reuniting him with his father Rami and returning them to their comfortable city life. However, this proves to be a cruel trick - Saeed is sent back to the day before the war begins, forcing him to relive the trauma of losing his father in a bombing and become a refugee all over again.

Finally understanding the Djinn's deceptive nature and unable to bear repeating the tragedy, Saeed uses his third wish to undo ever finding the ring. The story ends where it began - back in the refugee camp - suggesting that while magic offered no escape, perhaps acceptance of reality is the only way forward.

The screenplay explores themes of loss, grief, the refugee experience, and the dangerous allure of magical thinking as an escape from trauma.

SHADOW IN THE RING