Let there be light! An origin story, tracking back to the early days of cinema and the work of the Lumière brothers. This close look at the technical and emotive dimensions of the art form is insightful and delightful –and sure to make audiences fall in love with cinema all over again. In 1895, Louis […]
Continue readingThe Other Cheek
Great central performances drive this tale of guilt, repentance, and revenge. After Nashaat’s daughter is viciously attacked by his neighbors’ dog, he is indignant to hear claims she provoked the attack. Reading the accusatory article aloud to his manipulative ex-wife leads to a heated confrontation, leaving the incandescent father with no choice but to take […]
Continue readingSo What if the Goats Die
A solitary mountain shepherd, Abdellah, braves the snow to save his cattle, and discovers an abandoned village. The supernatural circumstances of its demise destabilize his world order. The lonely trek through an arid and mountainous landscape into the silent spaces of a deserted town is an encounter with humility – where the fragility of human […]
Continue reading..And When Do I Sleep?
Unable to sleep, Adam decides to spend the night working. A woman calls out to him from the kitchen, but he finds no one there. Has his life become a twisted dream? A strong vision drives this story about an inner reflection, one that forces the protagonist’s insomnia. In the charged atmosphere of night, we […]
Continue readingWard’s Henna Party
Halima,a Sudanese refugee woman, living in Egypt, works painting henna at weddings. A typical day preparing a bride for her wedding in one of Giza’s popular neighborhoods takes an unexpected turn when Halima’s 7-year-old daughter, Ward, decides to explore the vicinity.
Continue readingThe Return
On returning to Tunisia after seven years of isolation in Italy, Tarek meets his new neighbor Khaled. Khaled is everything Tarek isn’t: successful, handsome, and able to help others. Always close to her characters, filmmaker Charlie Kouka immerses the audience into the dynamics and dimensions of their inner turmoils, exploring the consequences of staying, leaving, […]
Continue readingThe Girls Who Burned the Night
A small act of rebellion precipitates a moment of tension, then connection, for Saudi sisters, Sasabel and Salsabel, 13-years-old, fights for a small act of independence, loaded with significance in the light of her teenage frustrations. Charged with the impatience of youth, the girls stay awake together through a restless night, their dreams explored in […]
Continue readingThe Ghosts We Left at Home
Director Faris RJ patterns unfinished thoughts and unanswered questions into a distinctive visual language in this fragmentary and brooding meditation on man and a city. Masculine and feminine is brought viscerally alive by Nadeem Rimawi’s utterly compelling performance exploring the human spirit on the brink, and at rock-bottom.
Continue readingSunday at Five
Hadil is at a turning point in her life. Her hesitation and selfishness, that she is well aware of, make her unstoppable when it comes to getting what she wants. Even if it comes at the expense of others. Director Sherif El Bendary cleverly plays with the wall between characters and the audience in this […]
Continue readingSoukoon
Mariam’s marriage is in turmoil when she discovers she’s pregnant. Trapped in a prison of lies and societal pressure in present-day Beirut, Mariam yearns to break free. Filmmaker Farah Shaer’s vision is blunt and uncompromising. An intense mise-en-scene and a subtle performance by Hiba Sleiman amplify Mariam’s perseverance, despite the obstacles she faces.
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