A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Other movies
IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU
Director: Mary Bronstein
Rose Byrne dominates in Mary Bronstein’s psychologically oppressive and compulsively dark story of a mother firmly on the edge. Both the actress and director take no prisoners as Linda (Byrne) appears in a cacophony of demands on her time as a wife, mother and (a barely functioning) therapist. Her sickly daughter is never seen, only a barrage of requests are heard, compounded by the ceiling that has caved in on her apartment, forcing Linda to move to a motel as her long-distance husband occasionally dials in. And one of her patients has disappeared. While the stress ramps up on screen, there is a catharsis to it all. Watch out for a deft cameo from A$AP Rocky.
COUTURE
Director: Alice Winocour
A delicate garment, feature film Couture is about women brought together in one place, at different stages of life, their stories spinning off one another. Angelina Jolie gives a raw and honest performance in a leading role that is both personal but also universal. Filmmaker Alice Winocour sets the drama during Paris fashion week, where South Sudanese model Ada (Anyier Anei) is alone in the big city. Seamstress Christine (Garance Marillier) is working on Ada's show stopper dress. Angele (Ella Rumpf) is a make-up artist, while Maxine (Jolie) is an American film director there to shoot the fashion house's finale. Soon however, she'll receive news that she has breast cancer. Louis Garrel and Vincent Lindon co-star in this drama of considerable poignancy and potency. "This film contains scenes that may be considered sensitive for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised"
WEDDING REHEARSAL
Director: Amira Diab
Tamara, with a child from a marriage that did not last long, is from an impoverished aristocratic family. To save her family from bankruptcy, Tamara is to marry Hassan Al-Dabbah, owner of one of the largest meat empires in the Middle East. Despite his wealth, Hassan comes from a nouveau riche family. Shortly before the wedding, the families spend a week together to oversee the wedding preparations. The differences between the families becomes apparent, and behind the fake smiles, all parties supervise the final wedding details. These details are overseen by Omar, Tamara’s old love, who has created a rock sculpture to give a unique character to the wedding. This sculpture will become the source of several disputes during the wedding.
A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Director: Anas Ba-Tahaf
A quirky love story set against the bustling backdrop of Jeddah. Convinced a generational curse will kill her on her 30th birthday, the superstitious Hayat is ready to embrace fate. Meanwhile the brilliant but shy heart surgeon Yousef suffers from a slow heartbeat, finding his only thrill when holding a scalpel. He grapples with a hidden urge to kill, which he suppresses until he meets Hayat. Fate entwines the woman who wants to die and the man who wants to kill, setting a tragic plan in motion. Everything falls into place until a life-affirming love intervenes. This exceptional tale, brought to life by a witty script and cast, uses the city’s stunning Red Sea scenery to explore the unpredictable beauty of life and connection.