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Cinema Biographies II

From March 28, 2011 until April 29, 2011

From April 1st to 29th, Casa Árabe presents in Madrid "Cinema Biographies", a season of films, documentary and fiction films, focused on the biographical profile of known Arab intellectual and political important figures: Gamal Abdel Nasser, Egyptian former president; Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim, leader of the anticolonialist forces during the Rif War; Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd, reputed Islam liberal thinker; and Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian political activist.


Films


Nasser 56, by Mahfouz Abd Elrahman (Egypt, 1996, 142 min.).

The film recreates the first term years of the Egyptian leader, focusing more on his most relevant political action, the Suez canal nationalization in 1956. The film states faithfully Nasser’s speeches and working habits and pictures his relations with collaborators and family.

Abdelkrim and the Rif War, by Daniel Cling (France, 2010, 52 min.).
This documentary film deepens on Abdelkrim figure, focusing on the period from his victory as the Rif tribal leader in charge of those who defeated the Spanish army in July 1921, to the end of that emancipatory experience, in 1926, after the joint offensive from the Spanish and the French army.

Waiting for Abu Zayd, by Mohamed Ali Atassi (Lebanon, 2010, 82 min.).
A unique testimony on the life and thought of one of the most remarkable Arab intellectuals, liberal Islam champion, who challenged the conservative trends. Ali Atassi recorded his public appearances for six years, explaining key matters on Arab and Muslim societies. The director finished this documentary film two months before the unexpected sudden death of the expert, July 2010.

Hanan Ashrawi, a woman of her time, by Mai Masri (Lebannon, 1995, 50 min.).
She emerged as an important Palestinian leader during the first intifada and became a persuasive voice on the international stage as spokeswoman for the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in the Oslo peace accord negotiations. The director Mai Masri explores how her personality was and pictures her as a figure going further beyond her intellectual and public profile.


Calendar of film shows

DATE
TIME
FILM
Friday April 1st19.30Nasser 56
Monday April 11th19.30Nasser 56
Friday April 15th17.00Abdelkrim y la guerra del Rif
Friday April 15th19.30Esperando a Abu Zayd
Monday April 18th19.30Hanan Ashrawi, una mujer de su tiempo
Monday April 25th
19.30Esperando a Abu Zayd
Friday April 29th17.00Abdelkrim y la guerra del Rif
Friday April 29th19.30Hanan Ashrawi, una mujer de su tiempo

Film shows will take place at Casa Árabe’s Auditorium in Madrid (c/ Alcalá, 62) at 19.30, except for those films where another hour is stated. Original version with subtitles in Spanish. Free entrance, prior ticket collection from 19.00 (from 16.30 for those shows starting at 17:00). Maximum two tickets per person.
Cinema Biographies II