LOST WORLDS WITH BETTANY HUGHES: THE NABATAEANS
Genre
Documentary
Running time
60 minutes
Year
2024
Language
English and Arabic
Subtitle
Arabic and English
Country
United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Italy, Greece and Jordan
Director
Jim Greayer
Bio
Producer
Shula Subramaniam
Cast
Bettany Hughes
Scriptwriter
Bettany Hughes
SHOWTIME
Sun
08.
Dec
Culture Square - Cinema 3
5:15 PM - 6:20 PM
Price: 40 SAR
Mon
09.
Dec
Culture Square - Cinema 2
2:15 PM - 3:20 PM
Price: 40 SAR
Having studied the Classical world for 30 years, English historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes has repeatedly come across references to the enigmatic lands of Nabataea. World-famous Petra was the Nabataean capital, but many visitors are unaware it was just one city in a vast trading empire. Now Bettany is on a mission to discover their world and answer the question: who are the Nabataeans? Her journey takes her to AlUla in Saudi Arabia, known for its monumental tombs and fascinating rock formations; she also traces the Nabataeans' global trade network through Jordan, Greece, and Oman. With exclusive access to astonishing new archaeological research and a network of renowned specialists revealing new finds, Bettany uncovers the Nabataeans' sensational story.
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In-Conversation with Viola Davis
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Viola Davis is an acclaimed American actress and film producer celebrated for her powerful performances across screen and stage. She is one of the few artists to achieve both the Triple Crown of Acting—winning an Academy Award, Emmy, and Tony—and the prestigious EGOT. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2017. In 2020, The New York Times ranked her ninth among the greatest actors of the 21st century. In 2017, Davis received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, presented by her Doubt co-star Meryl Streep. During her acceptance speech, Davis reflected, “God has blessed my life in abundance.” Streep wrote about Davis for Time, praising her artistic gifts as “deep and rich and true” and highlighting her cultural significance, saying Davis has “carved a place for herself on the Mount Rushmore of the 21st century.” That same year, Davis was named Harvard University’s Artist of the Year. In 2022, Davis starred in The Woman King, a historical epic about the Kingdom of Dahomey, where she portrayed Nanisca, a general of an all-female military unit. Her performance was widely acclaimed. That same year, she was cast as Dr. Volumnia Gaul in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel to the popular film series. Earlier, Davis portrayed former First Lady Michelle Obama in the Showtime series The First Lady. Davis is also a passionate advocate against childhood hunger in the United States. Since 2014, she has worked with the Hunger Is campaign, drawing on her own experiences growing up in poverty. She has shared, “Seventeen million kids in this country, one in five, go to bed hungry. I was one of those kids.” Davis rummaged through trash and stole food as a child, an experience that fuels her activism today. Speaking at the 2014 Variety Power of Women luncheon, she emphasized the campaign’s mission to “eradicate” hunger, stating that all children deserve a chance to achieve their dreams. To support this cause, Davis launched the $30K in 30 Days Project, awarding grants to organizations like the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in her home state. Her dedication to philanthropy complements her extraordinary contributions to film and culture, solidifying her legacy as both an artist and advocate.
