Arab cinema
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Berlin's Human Rights Film Festival
"Captains of Zaatari" – the unshakeable power of dreams
Berlin's annual Human Rights Film Festival closed at the weekend. One entry to the festival was the documentary "Captains of Zaatari". Its Egyptian director Ali El Arabi focuses on young refugees from Syria, who dream of escaping their dismal life in the Zaatari refugee camp with the help of football. Rene Wildangel reports for Qantara.de
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Film review: "Gaza mon amour"
Palestinian world cinema by the Nasser brothers
With "Gaza mon amour", the Nasser brothers have made a film in a genre that doesn't actually exist: regular Palestinian arthouse cinema. By Bert Rebhandl
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Mass propaganda in Egypt
"El-Ekhteyar 2" – twisting the facts for President Sisi
The Egyptian series "El-Ekhteyar 2" was created by a production company with close ties to the military – and pursues a corresponding narrative. Moritz Baumstieger explains how the series, which was broadcast in time for Ramadan, takes its own unique approach to historical facts
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Berlinale 2021: Samaher al-Qadi's "As I want"
“We’re meant to be ashamed of the way we laugh”
In her documentary, the young Palestinian filmmaker Samaher al-Qadi gives us a passionate and very personal view of what it means to be an Arab woman. Her film explores the oppression of women and its deep roots in society, but also women’s will to fight against it. By Rene Wildangel
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Iraqi women filmmakers
The power of stories and moving images
The four short films produced as part of the "Women Make Film" project are well worth seeing. They grapple with the ghosts that haunt Iraq: the horrors of IS rule, outdated gender roles and the aftermath of dictatorship. Christopher Resch spoke to the filmmakers
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Haifaa Al-Mansourʹs ʺThe Perfect Candidateʺ
When the patriarchy has better things to do
Haifaa Al-Mansour’s new film follows on from her successful debut, ʺWajdaʺ. In ʺThe Perfect Candidateʺ, the talented Saudi filmmaker again addresses the issue of equality. It’s her best work to date, says Schayan Riaz
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International Women’s Day
Ainouz' "Nardjes A." – hope as a form of resistance
Focussing on the Algerian protest movement, "Nardjes A." by Karim Ainouz, is about the universal power of hope to change the social and political status quo in the Maghreb country. By Rene Wildangel
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Documentary film: "For Sama"
The girl from a country in ruins
"For Sama", the film by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts that was crowned best European documentary at the last European Film Awards, gives us a very personal view of the war in Syria and the suffering of the civilian population. By Schayan Riaz
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Film review: Elia Suleiman's "It Must Be Heaven"
"Open the door, you ass"
Palestine is disappearing. From the international agenda, from the map, as a concept. The filmmaker Elia Suleiman from Nazareth reacts in the only possible way: using the language of the absurd, says Stefan Buchen in his review
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Film review: "Tlamess" by Ala Eddine Slim
Enchantment at the end of the world
"Tlamess", a visually striking experimental feature by Tunisian director Ala Eddine Slim, brings two drop-outs together in a weird, wild cohabitation in the woods: a desperate army deserter and a pregnant woman who walked away from her seemingly perfect life. By Adela Lovric
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Overcoming cultural divisions
"Iraq is full of inspiring stories"
At the end of November, a squad of young cultural creatives from all over Iraq met in Erbil, in the country’s north. Their work spans the fault lines that run through Iraqi society, and draws parallels to the revolution in Baghdad and in the country as a whole. Christopher Resch reports from Erbil
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Film review: Nouri Bouzidʹs ʺThe Scarecrowsʺ
Making amends is one path to healing
In his new film, award-winning Tunisian director Nouri Bouzid grapples with the traumas of women held captive by Islamist extremists, victims of the so-called ʺsexual jihadʺ in Syria. Bouzid also weighs in on the moral hypocrisy of Tunisian society, as it struggles to deal with those who have returned. By Adela Lovric