As awards season draws near, it’s time to get up to date with some of the films being released from and about the region.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in May this year that the 95th Academy Awards will be held next March at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. It was also recently announced that late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will be hosting the star-studded event, one of the biggest nights for films and entertainment.
While the official nominations for all categories will be announced on January 24, here is a round-up of all the films being sent from the Mena region for the Best International Feature category, as well as three movies about the Mena region submitted by other countries.
Our Brothers — Algeria
Directed by Rachid Bouchareb, Our Brothers is set on December 5, 1986, when thousands of students protested for higher education reforms in Paris, France.
When French-Algerian student Abdel Benyahia, 20, is killed by a drunken policeman in a Paris suburb and several hours later, Malik Oussekine is also pursued and beaten to death by three police officers, inspector Daniel Mattei is appointed to investigate as the police force and government collude to cover up the murders.
World War III — Iran
An Iranian thriller drama co-written and directed by Houman Seyyedi, the film follows the story of Shakib, played by Mohsen Tanabandeh, a homeless day labourer.
When the construction site he works on is used as a film set about the atrocities committed by Hitler during the Second World War, Shakib is given the opportunity of a lifetime to star in movie. However, Shakib has to also shield his girlfriend, who is deaf and mute with a secret past, or risk losing his chance at stardom.
The Exam — Iraq
Directed by Shawkat Amin Korki, this film centres around Rojin, a young Kurdish-Iraqi woman as she prepares to take a university entrance exam. Her father has decided that if she fails to gain entry into university, she will be forced into an arranged marriage.
Rojin's older sister Shilan, who is unhappily married, plans to help her sister pass at any cost in the hopes that she is given more opportunities and freedom in life not afforded to her.
The sisters’ joint mission draws them into a web of corruption that connects all parts of the society they live in.
Cinema Sabaya — Israel
Directed by Orit Fouks Rotem, this film follows nine Arab and Jewish women who are taking part in a video workshop hosted by young director Rona, who teaches them how to document their lives on film.
As each of the women share raw homemade footage with the rest of the class, the group, who come from different backgrounds and classes, are forced to challenge their values, views and beliefs.
The glimpses into each other’s lives and the conversations that ensue from their footage, help them see each other, and themselves, in a different light.
Farha — Jordan
Directed by Darin J Sallam and based on true events in 1948 in Palestine, this drama follows Farha, 14, who has an affinity for books and yearns to be educated. She undergoes a life-altering experience when her father locks her in a pantry as catastrophe consumes her home and village during the Nakba.
Farha is forced to watch from her hiding place as her dreams of education quickly change to those of survival.
Memory Box — Lebanon
Directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige, Memory Box, is about Maia, a single mother who lives in Montreal with her teenage daughter, Alex.
When an unexpected delivery containing notebooks, tapes and photos are sent to Maia from her best friend from 1980s Beirut, she refuses to sort through them and confront her past. But Alex secretly goes through the contents and delves into her mother’s tumultuous and passionate past during the Lebanese Civil War.
The Blue Caftan — Morocco
The Blue Caftan, directed by Maryam Touzani, is the story of a middle-aged tailor and his wife who run a traditional kaftan store in one of Morocco’s oldest cities. However, their relationship and life is turned upside down and re-examined with the arrival of a handsome new apprentice.
Mediterranean Fever — Palestine
Set in Haifa, Palestine, Mediterranean Fever is the story of Waleed, a man suffering from chronic depression after his dreams of being a writer don’t materialise. Waleed then befriends his neighbour, a petty criminal with a sinister ulterior motive. As their friendship develops, the unlikely friends find themselves on a journey full of dark encounters.
Raven Song — Saudi Arabia
Filmed in Riyadh and directed by Mohamed Al Salman, Raven Song is a coming-of-age comedy about a young man, Nasser, who is diagnosed with a brain tumour. Soon after being told he must undergo a risky operation, he briefly meets and becomes infatuated with a mystery woman. Nasser's best friend dares him to find a way to reach and connect with the woman before his operation by singing her a love poem.
Under the Fig Trees — Tunisia
Focusing on the lives of young rural women and men working the Tunisian summer fig harvest, director Erige Sehiri documents the growing pains of adolescence as the characters develop new feelings and try to understand love.
Holy Spider — Denmark
For its submission to the Best International Feature category, Denmark has chosen the Iran-set thriller Holy Spider directed by Ali Abbasi.
The film follows a journalist who finds herself in the very dark underbelly of Mashhad, the Iranian holy city, to investigate the serial killings of women by the "Spider Killer", who is on a mission to cleanse the streets of sinners.
Boy from Heaven — Sweden
Egyptian-Swedish director Tarik Saleh’s film follows the story of Adam, the son of a fisherman, who accepts an offer to study at the prestigious Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt.
However, shortly after his arrival, the grand imam of Al-Azhar suddenly dies. Soon, a politically-infused power struggle ensues with Adam at the centre of this ruthless game.
Winners — UK
British-Iranian filmmaker Hassan Nazer’s film follows the story of two children, Yahya and Leyla, as they set off on a high-risk adventure. The story, written by Nazer is set in a poor provincial Iranian village where the children work hard to support their families.
One day, the two friends find a precious statuette in the desert. As the authorities search for the lost treasure, Yahya’s boss Nasser, who has a great passion for cinema, decides to help the children find the owner of the precious statue.
The 95th Academy Awards will take place on March 12.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
RESULT
Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay: Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')
Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS
England v New Zealand
(Saturday, 12pm UAE)
Wales v South Africa
(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
The biog
Date of birth: 27 May, 1995
Place of birth: Dubai, UAE
Status: Single
School: Al Ittihad private school in Al Mamzar
University: University of Sharjah
Degree: Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Hobby: I enjoy travelling a lot, not just for fun, but I like to cross things off my bucket list and the map and do something there like a 'green project'.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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POWERWASH%20SIMULATOR
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
The Good Liar
Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen
Directed by: Bill Condon
Three out of five stars
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Two products to make at home
Toilet cleaner
1 cup baking soda
1 cup castile soap
10-20 drops of lemon essential oil (or another oil of your choice)
Method:
1. Mix the baking soda and castile soap until you get a nice consistency.
2. Add the essential oil to the mix.
Air Freshener
100ml water
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (note: lavender is a nice one for this)
Method:
1. Add water and oil to spray bottle to store.
2. Shake well before use.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
