Arab Films

A little more than a month ago (well a week before Harry Potter 7 pt 2 came out) all Hollywood films were blocked in Jordan. I still don't know exactly why. Rumor has it that it's about taxes or something....? Don't worry the blockbuster hits are back (I hear), but it hasn't been all that bad because I've been going to the Jordan Royal Film Commission and The Al Hussein Cultural Center instead to watch free films and documentaries.

The Film Commission is downtown in Jabal Amman and they have a beautiful outdoor theater that overlooks the entire downtown area. It's the perfect place to be on a summer evening.

Below are a few of the films I've seen recently, most at the French Arab Film Festival back in June. I would recommend them to any movie buff, or if you are interested in Arab-French culture or language!

Disclaimer: One thing to keep in mind is that not all the films below are documentaries or based on true stories and events. So enjoy what you watch, but don't use these films to generalize about the MENA region, people, and culture.

Des hommes et des dieux (Of Gods and Men) by Xavier Beauvous

"Brotherhood. Religions. Faith. Martyrdom. Love. French monks are living, working and praying in a Catholic monastery in Algeria in the '90s (civil war). It starts off showing how the Islamic locals and the Christian priests coexist in harmony. The situation with the Algerian Muslim-terrorists became worse. They will have to decide whether to stay or go back to France. They are forced to question themselves and their mission very profoundly. Their sense of fraternity with the locals and amongst themselves is challenged." (IMDb)

(No) Laughing Matter by Vanessa Rousselot

"Convinced that humor knows no frontiers, a young filmmaker embarks on an unusual quest: to search for humor in the West Bank. At first she finds only disillusionment - "our whole situation is a joke" - but little by little she uncovers a vibrant culture of humor that defies conventional wisdom. From inane stories mocking the residents of Hebron - the classic butts of Palestinian jokes - to self-deprecating, political quips and bitter-sweet anecdotes about the absurdity of everyday life, her journey plunges her into a little known universe, one in which a glimmer of hope and humanity endure in the shadow of conflict..." (IMDb)

Incendies by Denis Villeneuve

"A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love." (IMDb)

18 Days - The 1st Egyptian film about the Tahrir Square Revolution

Details:

A group of ten directors, twenty actors, six writers, eight directors of photography, eight sound engineers, five set designers, three costume designers, seven editors, three post-production companies, and about ten technicians have agreed to act fast and shoot, with no budget and on a voluntary basis, ten short films about the January 25 revolution in Egypt.

Ten stories they have experienced, heard or imagined. All the proceeds of this movie will be devoted to organizing convoys to provide political and civic education in the villages of Egypt.

Between 25 January and 11 February…18 Days.

The films are:

• Retention by Sherif Arafa, 14 minutes.
• God's Creation by Kamla Abou Zekry, 8 minutes.
• 19-19 by Marwan Hamed, 14 minutes.
• When the Flood Rises by Mohamed Ali, 9 minutes.
• Curfew by Sherif Bendary, 15 minutes
• Revolution Cookies by Khaled Marei, 13 minutes
• #Tahrir 2/2 by Mariam Abou Ouf, 13 minutes.
• Window by Ahmad Abdallah, 13 minutes.
• Interior/Exterior by Yousry Nasrallah, 11 minutes
• Ashraf Seberto by Ahmed Alaa, 12 minutes.

Egypt was the guest of honor at the Cannes International Film Festival 2011 and “18 Days” was screened during the festival.