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Current Egyptian Cinema Madrid
From June 05, 2014 until July 04, 2014
These are serious pictures in terms of their production, and they are also innovative in terms of their subject matter and how it is dealt with.
Casa Árabe will be screening four recently produced Egyptian films at its Madrid headquarters from June 13 to July 4.
Without a doubt, Egypt can feel proud about having the most important and veteran film industry in the Arab world, with the most widespread distribution. This selection in particular offers a diverse portrait of the new generation within this industry, as old as it is innovative. These are serious pictures in terms of their production, and they are also innovative in terms of their subject matter and how it is dealt with. All of them were recently produced (from 2009 to 2013).
Two of the films being shown were directed by great filmmakers with very well-established production companies (One/Zero and Messages from the Sea), whereas the other two are works by young directors and emerging producers who finance their films using innovative, flexible methods, with the goal of opening the way for new talent within Egypt’a film industry.
By a stroke of luck that we find delightful, three of the four films were directed by women, which reflects the innovative and important change characterizing the new wave of Egyptian cinema: the growing presence of women in the field of film direction, marking a difference with prior times, when women focused only on interpretation and, to a lesser degree, on writing.
The objectives of these screenings, proposed by the National Film Center in Cairo and translated and subtitled by Casa Árabe, is to contribute to bringing Egypt closer to the minds and hearts of movie viewers in Madrid.
Without a doubt, Egypt can feel proud about having the most important and veteran film industry in the Arab world, with the most widespread distribution. This selection in particular offers a diverse portrait of the new generation within this industry, as old as it is innovative. These are serious pictures in terms of their production, and they are also innovative in terms of their subject matter and how it is dealt with. All of them were recently produced (from 2009 to 2013).
Two of the films being shown were directed by great filmmakers with very well-established production companies (One/Zero and Messages from the Sea), whereas the other two are works by young directors and emerging producers who finance their films using innovative, flexible methods, with the goal of opening the way for new talent within Egypt’a film industry.
By a stroke of luck that we find delightful, three of the four films were directed by women, which reflects the innovative and important change characterizing the new wave of Egyptian cinema: the growing presence of women in the field of film direction, marking a difference with prior times, when women focused only on interpretation and, to a lesser degree, on writing.
The objectives of these screenings, proposed by the National Film Center in Cairo and translated and subtitled by Casa Árabe, is to contribute to bringing Egypt closer to the minds and hearts of movie viewers in Madrid.
[Excerpts from a text by Ayman Zaineldine, Ambassador of Egypt in Spain]
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Asham: A Man Called Hope, by Maggie Morgan
June 13, 2014Auditorio de Casa Árabe. Calle de Alcalá, 62, 28009 MadridEgypt, 2013, 87 min.Using turbulent Cairo on the verge of change as a backdrop, the film presents six stories about six entangled couples. All of their marriages revolve around ambition, frustration and hope, and they become connected to one another during important stages of their lives through the not at all random appearance of a street vendor named “Hope.”
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Villa 69, by Ayten Amin
June 20, 2014Auditorio de Casa Árabe. Calle de Alcalá, 62, 28009 MadridEgypt, 2013, 120 min.This film focuses on Hussein, who lives in isolation inside of his home. He is “visited” by people from his past, who break through his wall of isolation and his self-centered way of life, which ends up changing after the arrival of his sister and his nephew, Seif. When this happens, he begins to perceive a radical change in his inflexible concept of life.
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One / Zero, de Kamla Abou Zekry
June 27, 2014Auditorio de Casa Árabe. Calle de Alcalá, 62, 28009 MadridEgypt, 2009, 105 min.Taking place during a soccer match between the national teams of Egypt and Cameroon in the African Cup, the film’s events occur throughout one single day. It tells a story about the concerns of a series of characters with intertwined relationships from different social sectors, at a time when each of them is frantically searching for a way to escape from their harsh realities. All of these characters meet up at the end of the day, in a collective celebration over the results of the match.
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Messages from the Sea, by Daoud Abdel Sayed
July 04, 2014Auditorio de Casa Árabe. Calle de Alcalá, 62, 28009 Madrid2010, 133 min.In a poetic style, the film revolves around the young doctor Yehia, who, due to suffering from a speech impediment, leaves his ordinary life behind and travels to Alexandria to work as a fisherman. There he will start a new life, in which he crosses paths with various characters, all with stories of their own, influencing the main character’s destiny in different ways.
Friday, June 13 Asham: A Man Called Hope, by Maggie Morgan
Friday, June 20 Villa 69, by Ayten Amin
Friday, June 27 One / Zero, by Kamla Abou Zekry
Friday, July 4 Messages from the Sea, by Daoud Abdel Sayed
Friday, June 20 Villa 69, by Ayten Amin
Friday, June 27 One / Zero, by Kamla Abou Zekry
Friday, July 4 Messages from the Sea, by Daoud Abdel Sayed
One / Zero, de Kamla Abou Zekry (2099, 105 min.)
Taking place during a soccer match between the national teams of Egypt and Cameroon in the African Cup, the film’s events occur throughout one single day. It tells a story about the concerns of a series of characters with intertwined relationships from different social sectors, at a time when each of them is frantically searching for a way to escape from their harsh realities. All of these characters meet up at the end of the day, in a collective celebration over the results of the match.
Asham: A Man Called Hope, by Maggie Morgan (2013, 87 min.)
Using turbulent Cairo on the verge of change as a backdrop, the film presents six stories about six entangled couples. All of their marriages revolve around ambition, frustration and hope, and they become connected to one another during important stages of their lives through the not at all random appearance of a street vendor named “Hope.”
Villa 69, by Ayten Amin (2013, 120 min.)
This film focuses on Hussein, who lives in isolation inside of his home. He is “visited” by people from his past, who break through his wall of isolation and his self-centered way of life, which ends up changing after the arrival of his sister and his nephew, Seif. When this happens, he begins to perceive a radical change in his inflexible concept of life.
Messages of the Sea, by Daoud Abdel Sayed (2010, 133 min.)
In a poetic style, the film revolves around the young doctor Yehia, who, due to suffering from a speech impediment, leaves his ordinary life behind and travels to Alexandria to work as a fisherman. There he will start a new life, in which he crosses paths with various characters, all with stories of their own, influencing the main character’s destiny in different ways.
Taking place during a soccer match between the national teams of Egypt and Cameroon in the African Cup, the film’s events occur throughout one single day. It tells a story about the concerns of a series of characters with intertwined relationships from different social sectors, at a time when each of them is frantically searching for a way to escape from their harsh realities. All of these characters meet up at the end of the day, in a collective celebration over the results of the match.
Asham: A Man Called Hope, by Maggie Morgan (2013, 87 min.)
Using turbulent Cairo on the verge of change as a backdrop, the film presents six stories about six entangled couples. All of their marriages revolve around ambition, frustration and hope, and they become connected to one another during important stages of their lives through the not at all random appearance of a street vendor named “Hope.”
Villa 69, by Ayten Amin (2013, 120 min.)
This film focuses on Hussein, who lives in isolation inside of his home. He is “visited” by people from his past, who break through his wall of isolation and his self-centered way of life, which ends up changing after the arrival of his sister and his nephew, Seif. When this happens, he begins to perceive a radical change in his inflexible concept of life.
Messages of the Sea, by Daoud Abdel Sayed (2010, 133 min.)
In a poetic style, the film revolves around the young doctor Yehia, who, due to suffering from a speech impediment, leaves his ordinary life behind and travels to Alexandria to work as a fisherman. There he will start a new life, in which he crosses paths with various characters, all with stories of their own, influencing the main character’s destiny in different ways.
All of the screenings will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Casa Árabe Auditorium (at Calle Alcalá, 62). The movies will be shown in the original language version with subtitles in Spanish. Tickets: 3 euros for general entrance tickets at the box office. 2 euros for tickets purchased online, the officially unemployed, Arabic Language Center students and Youth Card holders. You must demonstrate this status by showing the proper identity card or document to receive the discount. Discounts are not cumulative. Assigned seating with tickets. On sale soon through this website, or on the date of the screening at the Casa Árabe headquarters, as of one hour before the film begins.