Exclusive: Director Tima Shomali Goes Back To School With A New Season Of AlRawabi School for Girls

Harper’s Bazaar Arabia speaks to the series’ creator as she delves into storytelling, stereotypes and the realities of being an Arab woman breaking boundaries in a male dominated world

“All I can say is that you have to watch the season and I promise you, you will find closure,” says Tima Shomali when we ask her what she would tell fans who are still reeling from the Season One finale of her hit Netflix show AlRawabi School for Girls.

A first-of-its-kind in the Arab world, the popular Jordanian coming-of-age teen drama, which premiered back in August 2021, broke boundaries through its raw exploration of the challenges navigated by a set of teenage girls at an elite private high school in Amman, resulting in the streaming service’s most successful and highly anticipated Arabic series to date.

Now back for Season Two, creator Tima continues to examine unmarked territory within Arab cinema, once more delving into teenage girlhood and all the tumultuous issues that come alongside it.

Spoiler alert: Starring Noor Taher, Andria Tayeh, Rakeen Saad, Joanna Arida, Yara Mustafa, Salsabiela and veteran actors Nadera Emra and Reem Saadeh, the initial six-episode limited series, which streamed in 190 countries and in 32 languages, followed outcast Mariam (Tayeh) and her friendship group as they plotted their revenge of school bully Layan (Taher).

Shining a spotlight on the harrowing realities and regionally taboo themes of sexual assault, physical and mental abuse and corruption, the final episode left viewers emotionally up in arms when, after a series of successes and missteps exacting revenge on her bullies, Mariam sends a message to Layan’s brother Hazem informing him that his sister had skipped school to be with her boyfriend.

The scenes that follow see Hazem racing to Layan’s boyfriend’s home, pulling out a gun from the dashboard and eventually banging on the front door before breaking in. While Layan promises him ‘nothing happened’, the camera then pans outside the home as a gunshot rings out and the camera settles on the drying rack holding Layan’s pink uniform delicately drifting in the breeze. For viewers, they are left with one heart breaking assumption: Layan has become the victim of an honour killing.

Described by Tima as “surprising, relatable and heart-breaking,” season two explores new challenges and emotions among an all-new cast, this time focusing on a teen’s newfound fame on social media as it takes a toll on her mental health and leads her down a dark destructive path, all candidly documented through the lens of her classmate. “The main theme is the impact of social media on the mental health of young teenagers,” explains Tima. “However these girls’ lives are full of action, drama, love and suspense, so we can expect a lot more variety of new themes. Teenage girls face a lot of challenges throughout their adolescence, and we try our best to capture and replicate the feelings and experiences that they go through.”

In a rather unique move, Tima has replaced the entire cast of season one with an array of fresh faces for the follow-up including lead Sarah, a shy introvert played by Palestinian Jordanian actor Tara Abboud, Nadeen (Tara Atalla), Farah (Raneem Haitham), Hiba (Kira Yaghnam), Tasneem (Sarah Youseff) and Thalia Elansari who plays Shams, the moody class photographer.

“There are so many different aspects that went into the casting process for season two,” continues Tima. “However I would like to address something quickly as I understand people are mourning the loss of their beloved season one cast. If they didn’t react this way I would feel betrayed, and I’m happy that I was able to create such loved characters for people to feel a bond with.”

She is confident, however, that viewers will both relate to and admire the new cast with the same intensity as they did the old – something which drives her passion as a successful storyteller. “When I tell a story and I can see people connect with it and the characters, that is what fulfils me,” she adds.

While we’d be forgiven for thinking Tima may currently be basking in the glory of her newfound success, it’s clear from speaking with the Jordanian creative that such an epic feat of storytelling doesn’t come without its challenges, particularly when it comes to being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Not that she’s going to let stereotypes hold her back, of course.

“With each step you take, your challenges get bigger,” she explains. “Whenever a woman wants to challenge something within an industry, people say that she doesn’t know what she’s doing, but whenever a man shares his vision, he simply gets showered with admiration. I’m not being biased – it’s just a fact. We must fight harder and take longer journeys to prove ourselves. It took years for people to believe in me and, although it’s not easy, when you accomplish what you set out to do, it’s most definitely worth it.”

Photography: Efraim Evidor. Stylist: Imogene Legrand. Hair & Make-Up: Sarah Saya. Stylist’s Assistant: Yasmin Reda

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s March 2024 issue.