"The Tree With No Heart"
Author: Aaron Huckleberry
Author: Aaron Huckleberry
Andalusia, Spain
Instagram: aaron_huckleberry_screenwriter
email: ahuckleberry6566@gmail.com
Instagram: aaron_huckleberry_screenwriter
email: ahuckleberry6566@gmail.com
Authors' phone number: +34 642 863 841
The Tree With No Heart
a feature screenplay synopsis
by Aaron Huckleberry
In war-torn Syria, a troubled woman, her idealistic son, and her mentally challenged cousin take in a wounded Western aid worker, unknowingly igniting a chain of deadly consequences that forces them to confront their pasts, their beliefs, and the brutal realities of survival.
Synopsis
Raawiya, a fraught Syrian woman, a rape-survivor, has shut out the world, hardened and emptied her heart. She wants only 2 things: the safety of her bright and intuitive 11-year-old son, Gibran, and spiritual fulfilment, to be one with God. Gibran discovers that Yasir, a malevolent and disreputable man, is his father, by rape. Raawiya´s distant cousin, Kareem, a simpleton who sees to the heart of things, tries to enhance Gibran´s life and to encourage Raawiya to step out of the insular existence she has created for Gibran and herself. Unable to tell Raawiya of his all-consuming love for her, Kareem writes her a letter and hides the letter in a hollow tree that he and Gibran have named, ‘the tree with no heart’. The tree symbolises Raawiya’s emptiness and resilience. Kareem places his love, his vulnerability, in that empty place.
Camilla, a foreign Aid worker on the run from an accident which killed Yasir´s brother, is horribly injured in a car crash. Raawiya´s paranoia about safety turns to terror when Gibran brings Camilla to their home (unaware of Yasir´s indirect involvement). Raawiya reluctantly nurses Camilla back to health. Meanwhile, Yasir tracks down the crashed car and seethes with an urge for blood revenge on its female passenger. He terrifies Raawiya and Gibran by kicking his way into their house at night. He leaves, intending to return, as he suspects that Camilla is hidden in the house.
Raawiya blames Camilla for the return of Yasir (for her, the embodiment of evil) and the jeopardy he represents. This intensifies when it appears to Raawiya (mistakenly) that Kareem has told people in town of Camilla´s presence and Camilla is found to have lied about the accident. Raawiya anticipates end of days from all directions. Yasir returns to the house and tries to kill Camilla, but is stopped by Gibran. The family have no choice other than to hold Yasir. Camilla sympathises with Yasir over the death of his brother, but he flies into rage and has an epileptic seizure. Raawiya and Camilla care for Yasir - a catalyst for Yasir´s later redemption.
Qusay (an associate of Yasir) takes Yasir´s disappearance to Hamza, a known Al Qaeda butcher. Through brutal interrogation of locals, Hamza learns of Camilla being hidden by Raawiya. Hamza and his fighters storm the house. They discover and free Yasir and seize Camilla for sale as a sex-slave. Hamza beats Raawiya and drags Gibran away to become an Al Qaeda trainee fighter. Raawiya and Kareem, with the support of local people, set out to free Gibran and Camilla. In the process, Kareem is captured. As he is hanged, he declares his faith, his love for Raawiya and Gibran and implores them to look for him in the tree with no heart. In the escape, a contrite Yasir saves Raawiya from Hamza and dies in the process, after cathartic words with her.
To the voiceover of Kareem´s tree-hidden love letter, Camilla and Raawiya celebrate (in a future time) Gibran´s emergence as a deeply invested primary school teacher who draws on all of the love he has known. Raawiya has a moment of realisation, of being in the world. In the final scene, Raawiya, having achieved balance and meaning through courage and involvement in the world, performs immaculately a sacred twirling dervish dance and finally finds unity with God.
Email: ahuckleberry6566@gmail.com Phone: +34 642 863 841
a feature screenplay synopsis
by Aaron Huckleberry
In war-torn Syria, a troubled woman, her idealistic son, and her mentally challenged cousin take in a wounded Western aid worker, unknowingly igniting a chain of deadly consequences that forces them to confront their pasts, their beliefs, and the brutal realities of survival.
Synopsis
Raawiya, a fraught Syrian woman, a rape-survivor, has shut out the world, hardened and emptied her heart. She wants only 2 things: the safety of her bright and intuitive 11-year-old son, Gibran, and spiritual fulfilment, to be one with God. Gibran discovers that Yasir, a malevolent and disreputable man, is his father, by rape. Raawiya´s distant cousin, Kareem, a simpleton who sees to the heart of things, tries to enhance Gibran´s life and to encourage Raawiya to step out of the insular existence she has created for Gibran and herself. Unable to tell Raawiya of his all-consuming love for her, Kareem writes her a letter and hides the letter in a hollow tree that he and Gibran have named, ‘the tree with no heart’. The tree symbolises Raawiya’s emptiness and resilience. Kareem places his love, his vulnerability, in that empty place.
Camilla, a foreign Aid worker on the run from an accident which killed Yasir´s brother, is horribly injured in a car crash. Raawiya´s paranoia about safety turns to terror when Gibran brings Camilla to their home (unaware of Yasir´s indirect involvement). Raawiya reluctantly nurses Camilla back to health. Meanwhile, Yasir tracks down the crashed car and seethes with an urge for blood revenge on its female passenger. He terrifies Raawiya and Gibran by kicking his way into their house at night. He leaves, intending to return, as he suspects that Camilla is hidden in the house.
Raawiya blames Camilla for the return of Yasir (for her, the embodiment of evil) and the jeopardy he represents. This intensifies when it appears to Raawiya (mistakenly) that Kareem has told people in town of Camilla´s presence and Camilla is found to have lied about the accident. Raawiya anticipates end of days from all directions. Yasir returns to the house and tries to kill Camilla, but is stopped by Gibran. The family have no choice other than to hold Yasir. Camilla sympathises with Yasir over the death of his brother, but he flies into rage and has an epileptic seizure. Raawiya and Camilla care for Yasir - a catalyst for Yasir´s later redemption.
Qusay (an associate of Yasir) takes Yasir´s disappearance to Hamza, a known Al Qaeda butcher. Through brutal interrogation of locals, Hamza learns of Camilla being hidden by Raawiya. Hamza and his fighters storm the house. They discover and free Yasir and seize Camilla for sale as a sex-slave. Hamza beats Raawiya and drags Gibran away to become an Al Qaeda trainee fighter. Raawiya and Kareem, with the support of local people, set out to free Gibran and Camilla. In the process, Kareem is captured. As he is hanged, he declares his faith, his love for Raawiya and Gibran and implores them to look for him in the tree with no heart. In the escape, a contrite Yasir saves Raawiya from Hamza and dies in the process, after cathartic words with her.
To the voiceover of Kareem´s tree-hidden love letter, Camilla and Raawiya celebrate (in a future time) Gibran´s emergence as a deeply invested primary school teacher who draws on all of the love he has known. Raawiya has a moment of realisation, of being in the world. In the final scene, Raawiya, having achieved balance and meaning through courage and involvement in the world, performs immaculately a sacred twirling dervish dance and finally finds unity with God.
Email: ahuckleberry6566@gmail.com Phone: +34 642 863 841
Awards Won
Religion Faith International Film Festival - Best Feature Script (highest tier, Rhodium)
Madrid International Movie Awards - Best Original Screenplay
Cannes World Film Festival - Best Inspirational Script
Hollywood International Indie Film & Screenplay Awards - Best War Screenplay
Hollywood International Indie Film & Screenplay Awards - Best Male Screenwriter
Tokyo International Cinema Awards - Best Feature Script
International Independent Film Awards - Best Screenplay (highest tier, Diamond)
Cine Vista Oasis Film Awards - Best Unproduced
Cinema WorldFest Film Awards - Best Feature Screenplay
Milan Indie Film Festival - Best Feature Screenplay
Zeal International Film Festival - Best Unproduced Script
Zeal International Film Festival - Best Feature Script
WILDsound FEEDBACK Film and Screenplay Festival - Best Screenplay
Humro Cinema - Best Screenplay
London Indie Film Festival - Outstanding Achievement Award
Champs-Elysees Film Awards - Best Original Screenplay
Bangkok Movie Awards - Best Feature Script
World Class Film Awards - Best Original Story
NOMINEES AND FINALISTS (all 2025)
New York Independent Cinema Awards - Nominee
International Indie Film & Screenplay Festival - Nominee
Golden Pen Script Awards - Nominee
Sunset Film Festival Los Angeles - Nominee
BestLov Film Festival - Finalist
Best Script Award London - Finalist
OTHER PLACINGS (all 2025)
World Class Film Awards - Honourable Mention (Best Arabic Film)
Athens International Art Film Monthly Festival - Honourable Mention
Wiki Screenplay Festival - Semi-Finalist
Hamburg Indie Film Festival - Semi-Finalist
Vancouver Independent Movie Awards - Semi-Finalist
Cleveland Arthouse Film Awards - Semi-Finalist
San Francisco Arthouse Festival - Semi-Finalist
Scriptwriters & Co International Festival - Semi-Finalist