Going to Heaven 2015

Loss and relocation to Abu Dhabi

Sultan loses his mother at a very young age, and his world changes forever. After his father remarries, the family moves to Abu Dhabi, where he must cope with a tense home life and a stepmother who keeps him at a distance. He seeks solace in three pet goldfish, which become a quiet counterpoint to the growing emotional distance at home.

A fragile peace and small comforts

The home atmosphere remains fragile as the stepmother's harsh rules threaten to erase what little innocence Sultan has left. The goldfish provide a steady, calming presence amid the strain of daily life. Sultan clings to these simple comforts as he navigates his new family dynamic.

Longing for grandmother

Sultan yearns to reconnect with his estranged maternal grandmother, a figure distant from the family. Fatima reveals that their father is hiding a photograph and a tape recording of the grandmother, heightening the sense of a hidden past. This revelation sets the stage for a hopeful but uncertain quest.

The decision to search for grandmother

Propelled by the discovery, Sultan resolves to find his grandmother, hoping to reclaim a sense of belonging. The journey promises answers, but it also demands courage to confront the distances that keep family apart. The quest turns from speculation into a concrete plan.

Saud joins the mission

Sultan is joined by his older friend Saud, who brings planning, investigative curiosity, and steadfast support. Saud's love of motorcycles and football mirrors a youthful spirit that helps them face uncertainty on the road. The two boys become essential partners in the journey toward the grandmother.

Running away from the school trip

The pair hatch a plan to skip a school trip to Dubai and instead strike out toward Fujairah. What begins as an impulsive escape becomes a grand, life-tested adventure. Their resolve is tested as they turn an ordinary school day into an epic journey.

Road trip across the Emirates

They traverse hundreds of kilometers across the UAE, facing uncertainty yet buoyed by their camaraderie. The journey tests their resilience and deepens their friendship as they navigate the vast landscapes between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. The brothers-in-arms rely on shared hope to push forward.

Encountering surprises and clues

Along the way they encounter surprises that push them to piece together the missing slices of their family history. Each clue about the grandmother brings them closer to a place they can finally feel they belong. The search blends adventure with a growing sense of responsibility.

Arriving at the grandmother's presence

Their journey leads toward the grandmother, portrayed by Mariam Sultan and voiced by Nada Al Midfa, whose memory anchors the quest. The encounter crystallizes the idea that roots and memory guide a person toward hope. They begin to see a path forward through the family's past.

Lessons of belonging, loyalty, and family

The grandmother's presence and the family's history teach Sultan about belonging and loyalty, underscoring the enduring power of family ties. The story uses their travel across the Emirates to illustrate how culture and memory shape a young life. He learns that family can provide direction even when the road ahead is uncertain.

Technology and communication

The narrative foregrounds how technology intrudes on traditional forms of connection, echoing the photograph and tape as symbols of a buried past. Sultan confronts the modern tension between digital life and intimate family memories. This theme threads through the quest as a reminder of how connection can endure beyond devices.