Category

Middle Eastern Films

Reviews of films from Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

Middle Eastern Films

The Baby: a snapshot of modern Tehran and young people caught between traditional family values and the temptations of city and university life

2 min read

Ali Asgari, “The Baby / Bacheh” (2014) In the space of 16 minutes, we’re drawn into a gritty world of urban bleakness and desperation that is…

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French and French-language Films, Middle Eastern Films

The Congress: good ideas and astute criticism of Hollywood and technology undone by a confused narrative

4 min read

Ari Folman, “The Congress” (2013) Partly based on Stanislaw Lem’s novel “The Futurological Congress”, in which the central character suffers from both delusional and actual mental…

Read article The Congress: good ideas and astute criticism of Hollywood and technology undone by a confused narrative

Middle Eastern Films, Northern European Films

9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo: an ordinary documentary short with little to say and leaving too many unanswered questions

2 min read

Floor van der Meulen, Thomas Vroege, Issa Touma, “9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo” (2016) Filmed over nine days (hence the title) in August…

Read article 9 Days – From My Window in Aleppo: an ordinary documentary short with little to say and leaving too many unanswered questions

Middle Eastern Films, Russian and Soviet Films

Channel 24 (Russia) Interview with First Lady of Syria Asma al Assad: a riveting conversation with a classy lady

2 min read

Channel 24 (Russia) Interview with First Lady of Syria Asma al Assad (18 October 2016) In contrast to so many female politicians and spouses of world leaders, the wife of…

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Arabic-language Films, Middle Eastern Films

Wadjda: a heart-warming film about a girl’s desire for freedom and how she thwarts social and political restrictions to achieve it

4 min read

Haifaa al Mansour, “Wadjda” (2012) A heart-warming film on one girl’s desire for freedom, especially the freedom to be true to herself, “Wadjda” is remarkable for…

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Middle Eastern Films

Tehran Taxi / Jafar Panahi’s Taxi: purporting to be a snapshot of life in Tehran but an examination of life and behaviour under a police state

4 min read

Jafar Panahi, “Tehran Taxi” aka “Jafar Panahi’s Taxi” (2015) Banned by the Iranian government in 2010 from making films, director Jafar Panahi nevertheless managed to make…

Read article Tehran Taxi / Jafar Panahi’s Taxi: purporting to be a snapshot of life in Tehran but an examination of life and behaviour under a police state