The fear of death has always been what defines much of the human condition. In You Will Die at Twenty, debut Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Abu Alala shakes that truism to its fundamental core. Part coming-of-age, part cautionary tale, it follows a teenage boy, Muzamil (Mustafa Shehata), whose mother, Sakina (Islam Mubarak), was told by a village imam that her son will die at age 20. His father left for Ethiopia when Muzamil was a newborn, ostensibly to find work, while his overprotective mother Sakina has raised him on her own, forbidding him from having much of a social life. What follows is a unique and visually striking look into the lives of a deeply religious and traditional community in rural Sudan.

Cinematographer Sébastien Goepfert makes the most out of the yellowish desert landscape by contrasting it with the vibrant, diverse colors of the villagers’ attire. The carefully crafted and juxtaposed shots are eye-catching—the shadows and cave-like dwellings of Muzamil and Sakina’s home casts off a deeply foreboding aura. Meanwhile, the creeping feeling of death is pervasive. Sakina, in particular, obsesses over the imam’s prophecy to a point where the foreboding feels more like anticipation. This, of course, has great consequences for Muzamil’s growth, and as the story progresses, we feel him inching closer towards skepticism and, ultimately, regret for leading a life of caution.

Several religious elders and mentor figures aid Muzamil’s education, most memorable of whom is Sulaiman (Mahmoud Elsaraj), a former friend of Muzamil’s father who has a bad reputation among the villagers but who, through his passion for filmmaking, becomes Muzamil’s window into the outside world. Muzamil himself is mostly a passive character who does what he’s told and obeys religious edicts. Hence, Sulaiman’s sacrilegious antics (like drinking alcohol) directly challenge the teen’s mindset and remind him that there is more to life than anguishing over what you cannot control.

Oftentimes the characters’ intense piousness may feel suffocating and narrow, but You Will Die at Twenty nevertheless contains much universal relevance. In an age where it’s easy to become cynical, the film emphasizes the futility of succumbing to despair. Religion can be a powerful tool to uplift the human spirit, but it can just as much stifle it and lead one to succumb to a form of nihilistic fatalism. It’s fascinating to see Muzamil realize this as the film edges toward its conclusion and the fear of death suddenly becomes an expectation of death. All of the sudden, his entire worldview is upended and he yearns to run away.

Director Amjad Abu Alala captures the breadth of village life in central Sudan with novel authenticity and a respectful eye. The musical score contains Arabic hymns and lingering drum beats, all part and parcel of the village’s everyday life, that help make the film’s world its own. Abu Alala has given audiences a deep window into a culture all too often ignored in mainstream cinema. Fans of international film, and those looking for more diverse filmmaking talents, should look forward to seeing what Abu Alala comes out with next.