6 December 2011

It’s Spring time in Desert



Eight films to impart the impressions of the latest human uprising, which thrilled the supporters of democracy all over the world, are listed in the Arab Cinema Section of 16th IFFK.  The remnants of the suppressed rage of people, lying dormant for decades under Dictators will be depicted in this section. It will reveal how the neighbours across the ocean, whose thoughts and speech were curtailed for decades, rose up to a rebellion against the prevailing autocratic tyranny. It may, not only satisfy the movie lovers, but motivate the civil society activists, too.
TAHRIR 2011: ‘THE GOOD,THE BAD and THE POLITICIAN’, latest movie from Egypt, will be the highlight of the section. As the name denotes, movie is with three sections and three Directors: Aten Amin, Tamer Ezzat and Amr Salama. It depicts the up rise of commons against Hossini Mubarak.  
First one, ‘The Good’ ( Directed by by Tamer Ezzat ),  shows the life and efforts of revolutionists. ‘The Bad’ ( Directed by Allen Amin ), tells the story of four army officers deputed to defeat the revolution; thirdly ‘The Politician’ ( Directed by Amr Salama ), portrays the life of Mubarak who dictated the nation for decades. Real life shots from Tahrir Square, where the people of Egypt gathered to show their solidarity to the rebellion, will impart the flavour of the revolution to its audience.
ROUGH PAROLE, by Elyes Baccar, illustrates the realities of people’s upheaval in Tunisia, which triggered the ongoing revolutionary attempts for democracy in Deserts. Tunisian   Director Elyes Baccar, renowned for her Documentaries, captures how people turned against the Dictator Ben Ali and details the emotions of commoners of the nation, in this master piece.
            Two films from Morocco, ROUGH HANDS by famous Moroccan Director Mohammed Asli and THE END, a debut attempt by its Director Hicham Lasri, will present a different experience to its viewers. Rough Hands portrays the life of a barber, who helps an illegal migrant. It   dispels light on certain harsh reality of Arab world.  The End, well received in Abudabi Film Festival 2011, is a love story told in the background of the current socio political scenario of Morocco.
DAMASCUS WITH LOVE is a Syrian film by Muhammed Abulaziz. The film leads the audience to the rich-cultural heritage of Middle East. The real face of Syria is captured through the eyes of a ‘Jotha Girl’. She finally discovers Damascus, which was the habitat of her early ancestors. The Film calls for the Arab-Israeli people to go beyond political dissimilarities and improve their mutual friendship.
Lebanon Director Bahij  Hojeij’s HERE COMES THE RAIN, is the story of a person who was kidnapped twenty years ago. The film succeeds to address the harsh political scenario of Arab world through this man’s life. Another Egyptian Film ASMA, directed by Aamir Salama, details the lonely life of a women affected by HIV, and her struggles with it.
             WHERE WE GO NOW   by Nadin Labaki, a famous Labenese Actress turned Director,   pictures the chaos in a war affected desert village. Life becomes horrible for both Christians and Muslims in the village, due to land mines.
            Dark-brutal realities from the lives and times of crusaders of democracy in Arab world are shared in these eight films.