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Middle Eastern & North African Cinema

This category contains 14 posts

‘No Bears’ (2022): When Truth is More Cinematic Than Fiction

Directed by: Jafar Panâhi || Produced by: Jafar Panâhi Screenplay by: Jafar Panâhi || Starring: Jafar Panâhi, Naser Hashemi, Vahid Mobsari, Bakhtiar Panjei, Mina Kavani, Reza Heydari Cinematography: Amin Jafari || Edited by: Amir Etminan || Country: Iran || Language: Persian, Azerbaijani, Turkish Running Time: 107 minutes A commentator on Glenn Kenny’s review of No … Continue reading

‘Baskin’ (2015): The Hell You Carry with You

Directed by: Can Evrenol || Produced by: Tolga Erener, Sina Rasim Pekcanatti Screenplay by: Can Evrenol, Cem Özüduru, Erçin Sadıkoğlu, Eren Akay || Starring: Mehmet Cerrahoğlu, Ergun Kuyucu, Gorkem Kasal, Muharrem Bayrak Music by: Ulas Pakkan, Volkan Akaalp || Cinematography: Alp Korfali || Edited by:  Erkan Özekan || Country: Turkey || Language: Turkish Running Time: … Continue reading

How the Other Half Lives… ‘The Nightingale’ & ‘Capernaum’ (2018)

Directed by: Jennifer Kent [1], Nadine Labaki [2] || Produced by: Kristina Ceyton, Steve Hutensky, Jennifer Kent, Bruna Papandrea [1], Khaled Mouzanar, Michel Merkt [2] Screenplay by: Jennifer Kent [1], Nadine Labaki, Jihad Hojaily, Michelle Keserwany [2] || Starring: Aisling Franciosi, Sam Claflin, Baykali Ganambarr, Damon Herriman, Harry Greenwood, Ewen Leslie, Charlie Shotwell, Michael Sheasby … Continue reading

‘Under the Shadow’ (2016): Cryptic Haunting Done Right

Directed by: Babak Anvari || Produced by: Emily Leo, Oliver Roskill, Lucan Toh Screenplay by: Babak Anvari || Starring: Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobby Naderi, Ray Haratian, Arash Marandi Music by: Gavin Cullen || Cinematography: Kit Fraser || Edited by: Christopher Barwell || Country: United Kingdom, Jordan, Qatar || Language: Persian Running Time: 84 minutes … Continue reading

‘Divines’ (2016): The Girl from the Wrong Side of the Tracks

Directed by: Houda Benyamina || Produced by: Marc-Benoit Creancier Screenplay by: Romain Compingt, Uda Benyamina, Malik Rumeau || Starring: Oulaya Amamra, Deborah Lukumuena, Kevin Mischel, Jisca Kalvanda, Yasin Houicha, Majdouline Idrissi, Mounir Margoum, Farid Larbi Music by: Demusmaker || Cinematography: Julien Poupard || Edited by: Louic Lallemand, Vincent Tricon || Country: France, Qatar || Language: … Continue reading

‘Babel’ (2006): Alejandro Iñárritu Goes Full Oscar-Bait

Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu || Produced by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Jon Kilik, Steve Golin Screenplay by: Guillermo Arriaga, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu || Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal, Koji Yakusho, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi Music by: Gustavo Santaolalla || Cinematography by: Rodrigo Prieto || Edited by: Stephen Mirrione, Douglas Crise || Country: … Continue reading

‘Taste of Cherry’ (1997): When Everything You Touch Hurts

Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami || Produced by: Abbas Kiarostami Screenplay by: Abbas Kiarostami || Starring: Homayon Ershadi,, Abdolrahman Bagheri, Afshin Khorshid Baakhtiari, Safar Ali Moradi, Mir Hossein Noori Cinematography by: Homayun Payvar || Country: Iran || Language: Persian Running Time: 95 minutes Films that examine suicidality and depression have a lot of balls. Even by … Continue reading

‘Waltz with Bashir’ (2008): Unique Animation Illustrates a Contemporary Tragedy

Directed by: Ari Folman || Produced by: Ari Folman, Serge Lalou, Gerhard Meixner, Yael Nahlieli, Roman Paul Screenplay by: Ari Folman || Starring: Ari Folman, Miki Leon, Ori Sivan, Yehezkel Lazarov, Ronny Dayag, Ron Ben-Yishai Music by: Max Richter || Cinematography: Yoni Goodman || Edited by: Nili Feller || Country: Israel, Germany, France || Language: Hebrew … Continue reading

‘Wadjda’ (2012): A Watershed Moment for the Saudi Arts

Directed by: Haifaa al-Mansour || Produced by: Gerhard Meixner, Roman Paul Screenplay by: Haifaa al-Mansour || Starring: Waad Mohammed, Reem Abdullah, Abdularhman al-Guhani, Sultan Al Assaf, Ahd Kamel, Ibrahim Al Mozael, Noof Saad, Rafa Al Sanea, Alanoud Sajini Music by: Max Richter || Cinematography: Lutz Reitemeier || Edited by: Andreas Wodraschke || Country: Saudi Arabia, … Continue reading

‘Close-Up’ (1990): How Cinephilia Goes Wrong

Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami || Produced by: Ali Reza Zarrin Screenplay by: Abbas Kiarostami || Starring: Hossain Sabzian, Abolfazl Ahankhah, Mehrdad Ahankhah, Monoochehr Ahankhah, Mahrokh Ahankhah, Haj Ali Reza Ahmadi, Hooshang Shamaei, Nayer Mohseni Zonoozi Cinematography: Ali Reza Zarrindast || Edited by: Abbas Kiarostami || Country: Iran || Language: Persian Running Time: 98 minutes Film … Continue reading

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