14 minutes | Jordan | 2025
200 Cages provides an intimate look into the lives of female farm workers in Ghor Al Safi, southern Jordan. The film follows two groups of women, led by Basma, a seasoned shaweesha (group leader), and Ibtisam, a single mother who works on a nearby farm. From dawn until early afternoon, these women labor in various weather conditions for just six Jordanian dinars daily. They face physical exhaustion, lack of access to restrooms, and pressure from their Bosses. As they work, they share their experiences of failed marriages, struggles with men, and the constant pressure to support their families within a system that repeatedly lets them down.
Director Biography - Aseel Jamal Sharsheer
Aseel Sharsheer is a 22-year-old independent filmmaker from Jordan. She started her journey in 2021 by co-directing and co-writing a short film called Pliodendron. Since then, she’s gained hands-on experience working with several production teams, including roles in the sound department on AlRawabi School for Girls (Season Two), SEAL Team, Ahlan Simsim, and more.
In 2024, Aseel directed her first short observational documentary, 200 Cages, which follows a day in the life of female farmworkers in Ghor Al-Safi, southern Jordan. Most recently, in 2025, she took on the role of producer for a student short film titled The Third Floor.
Aseel aspires to create Cinema and a visual Language that captures the power of Narratives and co-designs community storytelling. She’s currently developing a new project, Thin Walls, which continues her focus on storytelling as a tool for social impact.