“The Perfect Candidate” by Haifaa Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia. 2019, 101’) Fiction
Maryam is a young and ambitious doctor who works at the health clinic in a small Saudi Arabian city. Despite her excellent qualifications, she must earn the respect of her male colleagues and the acceptance of her patients on a daily basis. Outraged by the neglect of the Town Council, which puts off paving the road to the hospital time and again, she decides to run for the city’s elections. Her unexpected candidacy for mayor surprises her family and stirs up a community which is unaccustomed to the idea of a woman leading the council.

Cast: Mila Al Zahrani, Nora Al Awadh, Dae Al Hilali, Khalid Abdulrahim.

Awards and Festivals: Venice Film Festival, 2019; film nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards, Los Angeles, CA, 2019.

NOTICE: For reasons beyond Casa Árabe’s control, we have been forced to cancel this screening. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your patience.

“Noura’s Dream” [Le rêve de Noura] by Hinde Boujemaa
(Tunisia, Belgium, France and Qatar. 2019, 92’) Fiction
Noura is an independent woman who raises her three children on her own and earns a living by working in a hospital laundry room. While her husband Sofiane is in jail, she meets Lassad, the love of her life. Forced to hide their relationship, Noura files for divorce, but a few days before it is granted, the dream of living with her lover is shattered by Sofiane’s imminent release from prison. This is director Hinde Boujemaa’s second feature film.

Cast: Hend Sabri, Lofti Abdelli, Hakim Boumassoudi, Belhassen Harbaoui, Ikbal Harbaoui and Jamel Sassi.

Awards and Festivals: Toronto International Film Festival -TIFF- (Canada, 2019); Red Sea IFF International Film Festival (Saudi Arabia, 2020).

“Papicha” by Mounia Meddour (France and Algeria. 2019, 106’) Fiction  
Plot summary: The film is set in Algeria in the 1990s. Nedjma is a university student who tries to make sure that events during the the civil war which start to take place all around her do not keep her from living a normal life, so she goes out at night with her best friend Wassila and sells the dresses she makes in discotheque bathrooms. As society grows more conservative, she decides to fight for her freedom and independence by organizing a fashion show at the university with her friends. It will challenge all established rules.

Cast: Lyna Khoudri, Shirine Boutella, Amira Hilda Douaouda, Yasin Houicha.

Awards and Festivals:  Young Jury Award (FICC48 - Cartagena Film Festival, 2019); Audience Award, Pilar Miró Award for Best New Director (SEMINCI, Valladolid, 2019); Audience Award (Cineuropa33 Film Festival, Santiago de Compostela, 2019); nominated for Best First Film and Best Newcomer Actress (César Awards, 2020); nominated for Best Foreign Film (Oscar Awards, 2020); Cannes Film Festival, “Un certain regard”, 2019.

“The Perfect Candidate” by Haifaa Al Mansour (Saudi Arabia. 2019, 101’) Fiction
Maryam is a young and ambitious doctor who works at the health clinic in a small Saudi Arabian city. Despite her excellent qualifications, she must earn the respect of her male colleagues and the acceptance of her patients on a daily basis. Outraged by the neglect of the Town Council, which puts off paving the road to the hospital time and again, she decides to run for the city’s elections. Her unexpected candidacy for mayor surprises her family and stirs up a community which is unaccustomed to the idea of a woman leading the council.

Cast: Mila Al Zahrani, Nora Al Awadh, Dae Al Hilali, Khalid Abdulrahim.

Awards and Festivals: Venice Film Festival, 2019; film nominated for the Independent Spirit Awards, Los Angeles, CA, 2019.
 

“For Sama” by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts (United Kingdom and Syria. 2019, 103’) Documentary
A love letter from a young mother to her daughter. The film tells the story of Waad Al-Kateab’s life during five years of war in Aleppo, Syria. Throughout those five years, she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, as a catastrophic conflict rises up around her. Her camera captures unbelievable stories of loss, laughter and survival, as Waad decides whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means giving up the fight for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.

Awards and Festivals: Best Film, Best Documentary, Directing and Editing (British Independent Film Awards -BIFA-l, London, 2019); Best Documentary (Cannes Film Festival, 2019); nominated for Best Documentary (European Film Awards, 2019; nominated for Best Documentary (Oscar Awards, 2019); Best Documentary (BAFTA - British Academy of Film and Television, London, 2019); Best Documentary (European Film Awards, 2019); Freedom of Speech Award (NBR-National Board of Review, 2019); nominated for Best Documentary (Satellite Awards, 2019).

“Papicha” by Mounia Meddour (France and Algeria. 2019, 106’) Fiction
The film is set in Algeria in the 1990s. Nedjma is a university student who tries to make sure that events during the the civil war beginning to take place all around her do not prevent her from living a normal life, so she goes out at night with her best friend Wassila and sells the dresses she makes in discotheque bathrooms. As society grows more conservative, she decides to fight for her freedom and independence by organizing a fashion show at the university with her friends. It will challenge all established rules.

Cast: Lyna Khoudri, Shirine Boutella, Amira Hilda Douaouda, Yasin Houicha.

Awards and Festivals:  Young Jury Award (FICC48 - Cartagena Film Festival, 2019); Audience Award, Pilar Miró Award for Best New Director (SEMINCI, Valladolid, 2019); Audience Award (Cineuropa33 Film Festival, Santiago de Compostela, 2019); nominated for Best First Film and Best Newcomer Actress (César Awards, 2020); nominated for Best Foreign Film (Oscar Awards, 2020); Cannes Film Festival, “Un certain regard” award, 2019.

“Arab Blues” (Un divan à Tunis) by Manele Labidi Labbé (France. 2019, 88’) Fiction

Plot summary: After studying in France for several years, Selma opens her own psychoanalysis practice in a working-class suburb of Tunis, soon after the social and political revolution takes place. Though she has a hard time in the beginning, demand soon starts to surpass her ability to take on work. While she attempts to complete all the bureaucracy required to make her dream come true, Selma is forced to face a past she thought she had left behind.

Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Majd Mastoura, Aïcha Ben Miled, Feriel Chamari, Hichem Yacoubi, Najoua Zouhair, Jamel Sassi.

Awards and Festivals: Official Section of the Valladolid Film Festival -SEMINCI-, 2019; Giornati degli Autori Award (Italy, 2019); London Film Festival, 2019; Toronto International Film Festival -TIFF-, 2019; Miami Film Festival, 2020; Palm Springs International Film Festival (USA, 2020).

“For Sama” by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts (United Kingdom and Syria. 2019, 103’) Documentary
A love letter from a young mother to her daughter. The film tells the story of Waad Al-Kateab’s life during five years of war in Aleppo, Syria. Throughout those five years, she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, as a catastrophic conflict rises up around her. Her camera captures unbelievable stories of loss, laughter and survival, as Waad decides whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means giving up the fight for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.

Awards and Festivals: Best Film, Best Documentary, Directing and Editing (British Independent Film Awards -BIFA-l, London, 2019); Best Documentary (Cannes Film Festival, 2019); nominated for Best Documentary (European Film Awards, 2019; nominated for Best Documentary (Oscar Awards, 2019); Best Documentary (BAFTA - British Academy of Film and Television, London, 2019); Best Documentary (European Film Awards, 2019); Freedom of Speech Award (NBR-National Board of Review, 2019); nominated for Best Documentary (Satellite Awards, 2019).

"Noura’s Dream” [Le rêve de Noura] by Hinde Boujemaa (Tunisia, Belgium, France and Qatar. 2019, 92’). Fiction
Noura is an independent woman who raises her three children alone and makes a living by working in a hospital laundry room. While her husband Sofiane is in jail, she meets Lassad, the love of her life. Forced to hide their relationship, Noura files for divorce, but a few days before it is granted, the dream of living with her lover is shattered by Sofiane’s imminent release from prison. This is director Hinde Boujemaa’s second feature film.

Cast: Hend Sabri, Lofti Abdelli, Hakim Boumassoudi, Belhassen Harbaoui, Ikbal Harbaoui and Jamel Sassi.

Awards and Festivals: Toronto International Film Festival -TIFF- (Canada, 2019); Red Sea IFF International Film Festival (Saudi Arabia, 2020).

“Arab Blues” [Un divan à Tunis] by Manele Labidi Labbé (France. 2019, 88’) Fiction
After studying in France for several years, Selma opens her own psychoanalysis practice in a working-class suburb of Tunis, soon after the social and political revolution takes place. Though she has a hard time in the beginning, demand soon starts to surpass her ability to take on work. While she attempts to complete all the bureaucracy required to make her dream come true, Selma is forced to face a past she thought she had left behind.

Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Majd Mastoura, Aïcha Ben Miled, Feriel Chamari, Hichem Yacoubi, Najoua Zouhair, Jamel Sassi.

Awards and Festivals: Official Section of the Valladolid Film Festival -SEMINCI-, 2019; Giornati degli Autori Award (Italy, 2019); London Film Festival, 2019; Toronto International Film Festival -TIFF-, 2019; Miami Film Festival, 2020; Palm Springs International Film Festival (USA, 2020).

“Adam” by Maryam Touzani (Morocco, France and Belgium. 2019, 98’) Fiction
 In the old medina of Casablanca, Abla, a widow and mother of an eight-year-old girl, runs a small traditional Moroccan bakery. One day, her regular routine is interrupted by the arrival of Samia, a young pregnant woman who knocks on her door looking for work and a roof over her head. The daughter accepts this newcomer from the very outset, but her mother is more reticent about welcoming a stranger into their home. Abla has no idea just how this chance encounter will change their lives.

Cast: Lubna Azabal, Nisrin Erradi, Douae Belkaouda, Aziz Hattab, Hasnaa Tamtaoui.

Awards and Festivals: Official Selection in the “Un certain regard” section (Cannes Film Festival, 2019); Official Selection at the Valladolid Film Festival -SEMINCI-, 2019; selected by Morocco to vie for Best Non-English Language Film (Oscar Awards, 2020).

“Noura’s Dream” [Le rêve de Noura] by Hinde Boujemaa (Tunisia, Belgium, France and Qatar. 2019, 92’). Fiction
Noura is an independent woman who raises her three children alone and makes a living by working in a hospital laundry room. While her husband Sofiane is in jail, she meets Lassad, the love of her life. Forced to hide their relationship, Noura files for divorce, but a few days before it is granted, the dream of living with her lover is shattered by Sofiane’s imminent release from prison. This is director Hinde Boujemaa’s second feature film.

Cast: Hend Sabri, Lofti Abdelli, Hakim Boumassoudi, Belhassen Harbaoui, Ikbal Harbaoui and Jamel Sassi.

Awards and Festivals: Toronto International Film Festival -TIFF- (Canada, 2019); Red Sea IFF International Film Festival (Saudi Arabia, 2020).

“Adam” by Maryam Touzani (Morocco, France and Belgium. 2019, 98’) Fiction
 In the old medina of Casablanca, Abla, a widow and mother of an eight-year-old girl, runs a small traditional Moroccan bakery. One day, her regular routine is interrupted by the arrival of Samia, a young pregnant woman who knocks on her door looking for work and a roof over her head. The daughter accepts this newcomer from the very outset, but her mother is more reticent about welcoming a stranger into their home. Abla has no idea just how this chance encounter will change their lives.

Cast: Lubna Azabal, Nisrin Erradi, Douae Belkaouda, Aziz Hattab, Hasnaa Tamtaoui.

Awards and Festivals: Official Selection in the “Un certain regard” section (Cannes Film Festival, 2019); Official Selection at the Valladolid Film Festival -SEMINCI-, 2019; selected by Morocco to vie for Best Non-English Language Film (Oscar Awards, 2020).