Discover our list of thoughtful film reviews to gain visual and cinematic perspectives on the cultures, stories, and current affairs shaping the Middle East and North Africa, from award winning pictures to inspiring stories.
“Bonbone”: A Heartfelt Chronicle of Love and Resistance during the Occupation of Palestine
Advisory warning: Some adult themes discussed. Recommended for viewers 16+. With Imad’s jaw clenched and his gaze piercing ...
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“Farha”: An Intimate Tale of Perseverance in the Face of Catastrophe
In the year following the UN resolution partitioning Palestine into two states and the end of the British ...
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“The Alleys”: A Labyrinth of Lies as Complex as the Streets in Which They Take Place
A story can spread rapidly in a community, changing and evolving in a way that can make it ...
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“Ghost Hunting”: An Examination of Trauma and The Journey to Healing
Israel’s Moskobiyeh interrogation center in Jerusalem leaves long-lasting effects on those who were held captive. Palestinian director Raed ...
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“West Beirut” Film Review: A Playful Outlook to Lebanon’s Civil War
Tarek Noueiri (Rami Doueiri) steps outside the classroom and unfastens the casement window. His French teacher’s words reverberate ...
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“Wadjda” Film Review: How Saudi Arabian Culture Impacts a Young Girl’s Pursuits
“Don’t you know that girls don’t ride bikes?” Abdullah (Abdullrahman Al Gohani) scorned Wadjda, a sly grin painted ...
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“The Swimmers” Film Review: The Inspiring Olympic Story of Two Syrian Sisters
In the middle of the Aegean Sea, an overcrowded dinghy carrying sisters Yusra and Sara along with 18 ...
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“The Insult” Movie Review: The Entangled Web Between the Personal and Political
Yasser Salameh’s (Kamel El Basha) posture is tense, his hands fixated on his hips, and his eyes locked ...
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“Taste of Cherry” Film Review: An Iranian Man’s Quest for the Meaning of Life
Abbas Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry presents serene Iranian landscapes amid a protagonist’s grim ideation. The protagonist drives through ...
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