Going to Heaven 2015

Going To Heaven is a family-centered drama set in the United Arab Emirates, beginning in the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi. Sultan [Jumaa Ibrahim Al Zaabi] has lost his mother at a very young age and feels adrift in his world. After his father remarries, the family moves to Abu Dhabi, where he is forced to live with his callous stepmother and his younger sister, Fatima [Fatima Al Taei]. The home atmosphere is tense, and the fragile peace Sultan manages to carve out hinges on small comforts, especially his three pet goldfish, which offer a quiet, steady calm amid the growing distance at home. Yet even these tiny companions become targets as his stepmother’s harsh rules threaten to remove what little innocence remains in his life.

Desperate for warmth, he yearns to reconnect with his maternal grandmother, a figure who has been estranged from the family for years. The search becomes personal and urgent when Fatima reveals that their father is hiding a photograph and a tape recording of the grandmother. This revelation propels Sultan to embark on a hopeful quest to find her, a journey that takes him far beyond the familiar streets of Abu Dhabi toward Fujairah.

Accompanying him on this voyage is his older friend Saud [Ahmed Ibrahim Al Zaabi], a boy who loves motorcycles and football and steps into the roles of planner, investigator, and supportive ally. Together, they hatch a plan to run away from a school trip to Dubai and strike out toward Fujairah, turning an ordinary trip into a grand adventure. The road ahead is long and uncertain, but their camaraderie keeps them going as they navigate hundreds of kilometers across the Emirates. Along the way, they encounter surprises and a flood of emotions that test their resilience and deepen their friendship, all while Sultan begins to piece together the missing slices of his family history.

The journey also foregrounds broader themes that touch many lives: the importance of family within Emirati culture, the challenges posed by modern life, and the ways technology can intrude on traditional forms of communication and connection. As Sultan follows the clues about his grandmother, he learns essential life lessons about belonging, loyalty, and the enduring power of family ties.

Key moments anchor the emotional core of the story, including the portrayal of the grandmother by Mariam Sultan and the grandmother’s voice brought to life by Nada Al Midfa. Their presence reinforces the film’s message that roots and memory guide a person toward hope, even when paths are uncertain.

Ultimately, this heartfelt journey blossoms into a nuanced portrait of a boy’s growth, framed by the landscapes of the UAE and underscored by a hopeful, searching spirit. Going To Heaven invites viewers to reflect on family bonds, cultural traditions, and the quiet courage it takes to seek a place to belong.