BACKSTAGE
Genre
Drama
Running time
102 minutes
Year
2023
Language
Arabic
Subtitle
English
Country
Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar, Norway and Saudi Arabia
Director
Afef Ben Mahmoud, Khalil Benkirane
Bio
Producer
Khalil Benkirane, Afef Ben Mahmoud
Cast
Afef Ben Mahmoud, Sondos Belhassen, Saleh Bakri, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Sofiane Ouissi, Hajiba Fahmy, Ali Thabet, Abdallah Badis, Salima Abdelwahab, Nassim Baddag
Scriptwriter
Afef Ben Mahmoud
On stage, a vibrantly physical performance by a contemporary dance troupe; behind the scenes, all the underlying tensions and dynamics of a creative group who live, work, love and play together. Codirector and dancer Afef Ben Mahmoud plays Aida, a star dancer whose partner Hedi (renowned Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui) injures her – maybe by accident, maybe on purpose – on stage in a small Middle Atlas town. The whole company must make its way through a forest to the nearest medical help. In the dark forest, surrounded by the sounds of wild animals, the journey becomes a riveting dance in itself as the camera leaps among the players. A wholly original film, clearly based on authentic experience and thrilling to watch.
Other movies
HIJRA
Director: Shahad Ameen
A grandmother and her two granddaughters journey from Taif to Mecca. When the eldest granddaughter vanishes, the two remaining women travel north to find her, with their search highlighting the deep cultural and generational bonds between Saudi women. Set against the backdrop of the Hajj pilgrimage, Hijra portrays the intimate and emotional odyssey of these women, which evolves into a spiritual quest. Their journey carries the weight of an entire heritage and offers an emotional, powerful and insightful look at identity. Shot across eight Saudi cities, the film provides a deep dive into the nation’s rich cultural tapestry. Actress Khairia Nazmi infuses the story with profound emotion due to her strength and energy.
THE FINALE
Director: Rodolphe Chedid
In a secluded Lebanese village, Amal and Naeem, married for 50 years, find their peaceful life marked by the absence of their children, who left during the war more than three decades ago. Feeling a profound void, Amal seeks to rekindle their connection and rediscover meaning by asking Naeem to write their life story. He reluctantly agrees, and they embark on an intimate journey through forgotten memories and unspoken truths. As they revisit their past, they confront the love they’ve built and the questions that have shaped their lives. Filmed with a unique and original cinematic language, this love story is a powerful testament to how film can beautifully convey emotions, memories and the intimate details that make life extraordinary.
LOST LAND
Director: Akio Fujimoto
In this quietly powerful, first-ever Rohingya-language feature, Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimoto offers a haunting, intimate portrait of two siblings fleeing persecution in Myanmar. With nothing but vague directions and each other, nine-year-old Somira and her younger brother Shafi begin a harrowing journey to join an uncle in Malaysia, crossing borders by sea and land and navigating a world shaped by smugglers, fear and exploitation. With a cast of non-professional actors, most of whom lived refugee experiences, the film blends realism with lyrical restraint. Eschewing melodrama for quiet observation, Fujimoto captures the disorientation of displacement and the uncertainty of fragile hopes. Lost Land is a timely, deeply human reflection on survival, resilience and the Rohingya’s eternal search for a place to call home.