TERRA INCOGNITA (27 February 6.00) (Lebanon) Intense drama dealing with the psychological aftermath of the Lebanese civil war and the destruction of Beirut. The film traces the deep wounds that these events have left on a group of thirtysomething men and women who find themselves unable to relate to life or to each other. Setting poetic monologues and songs against the constant background noise of news reports, and juxtaposing busy construction sites with omnipresent soldiers and U.N. security forces, "Salhab creates almost a documentary of contemporary Beirut, with its chic bars and cafes and sophisticated middle-class homes." - Deborah Young
The screening will be introduced by director Ghassan Salhab who will be available afterwards for a question and answer session.
THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE (28 February 2.00) (USA) The Struggle For Peace introduces grass roots organisations with very different perspectives on how to bring about a peaceful settlement to the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict from the ‘Women in Black' to Israeli soldiers who refuse to serve in the occupied territories on the basis that "the purpose of the Israeli Defense Forces is supposed to be to defend our nation, not to oppress others." "A major breakthrough in presenting a humane and reasoned perspective on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict." - Middle East Report.
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MY TERRORIST (2002 Israel-UK). A personal perspective on terrorism chronicling Yulie Gerstel's advocacy for a jailed gunman, Fahad Mibyi, who has renounced violence and who wounded her 25 years ago. Is she "breaking the vicious cycle" of recrimination, or merely "encouraging terrorism". Public and personal ambivalence is well etched in this fast paced documentary.
AL-JAZEERA (29 February 2.00) (France) Founded in 1996, Al-Jazeera (˜the Island') was the first 24-hour news channel in the Arab world. Shot on location in Doha, Qatar, the film explores the paradoxes that emerge between the apparent orthodoxy of Arab societies, and the journalistic freedom flaunted by Al-Jazeera. Combining news footage, excerpts from Al-Jazeera programmes, and interviews with executives, anchors, and journalists, Al-Jazeera is an invaluable look at the challenges faced and issues raised by the Arab world's most important television channel.
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AL-JAZEERA EXCLUSIVE (2002 UK) Director Ben Anthony was given full access to the Quatar-based satellite network and its operation. Senior executives Omar Bec and Ibrahim Hilal are followed as they make tough choices about what goes on air and watch their material being copied by other Arab-lingo stations. Most affecting are visits with ex-Iraqi Mawafak, who has to translate for Colin Powell while bombs fall on his family.
BROKEN WINGS (1st March 6.00) (Israel) Maya, a seventeen-year-old Israeli girl, is hoping for success as a pop singer, but she's distracted by her worries at home and still mourning the recent death of her father. Her mother, an overworked midwife, is struggling emotionally, and expects Maya to do much of the work of looking after her younger siblings Ido and Bahr. Maya's brother Yair has responded to the tragedy in his own way, by dropping out of school and adopting a nihilistic philosophy which views human beings as ‘specks of dust'. Over a twenty-four hour period, the stress becomes too much for everyone, triggering a further crisis which leads all the family members to a moment of realisation.
SACRIFICES (2nd March 5.45) (Syria) The head of the family, an old man, is at the point of death. He would like to give his name to one of his newborn grandsons but he does not acknowledge any of them before he dies. His three grandsons grow up in this primitive world seeking pleasure and salvation. The first one in restraint and submission, the second in love and the third in power, violence, and cruelty. A cornucopia of allegorical imagery Oussama Mohammad's second feature is a beautifully photographed and ornate family-based saga about life, death, and love shot in the verdant hills of northern Syria.
ALI ZAOUA (9 March 6.00 and 10 March 3.00) (Morocco) Powerful performances in La Haine and Hideous Kinky have ensured that Said Taghmaoui is one of the most sought after and interesting young French actors. In his latest role he stars with Moroccan street kids in this handsomely shot drama which seeks to carry on the tradition of portraits of feral street kids set by Bunuel's Los Olvidados half a century ago. Amongst the deserted buildings of Casablanca's port three homeless twelve-year-olds look upon the beaten body of their friend and decide to give him the funeral of his dreams. "An involving, gritty and spiced with overtones of ‘Lord of the Flies, an imaginative fantasy sequence, a strong fairytale element and some pointed political comment." - Cambridge Film Festival catalogue.
SEE ANY THREE FILMS FOR £10.50/ £6 OR ALL SIX FOR £18/ £12
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