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MIDDLE EASTERN FILM FESTIVAL A showcase of fi lms from the Maghreb and beyond
This year’s Middle Eastern Film Festival, which takes place at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh and GFT in Glasgow, offers an insight into the region’s current political and social situation through the lens of contemporary cinema. The programme focuses on films from North Africa, showing highlights from Tunisia’s golden age as well as new films from Morocco. Look out for Nabil Ayouch’s award-winning Ali Zaoua: Prince of the Streets, a slice of magical realism set among Casablanca’s street children. It’s a poignant tale about a group of boys who try to find the money to have a fitting funeral for their recently killed friend.
about the devastating impact on the village of Camburnu after the government instals a rubbish tip nearby. There is also the debut film from Peyman Moaadi – who’ll be recognisable to some as the lead actor in Iranian drama The Separation. The Snow on the Pines is a quiet drama about the impact of a man’s infidelity on his relationship. And closing the festival is a recent hit from the Venice Film Festival, Bethlehem (pictured), a collaboration between Israeli filmmaker Yubal Adler and Palestinian journalist Ali Wakad about the relationship between a secret service officer and his informant. (Gail Tolley)
Other films we’d recommend include a polemical documentary from Turkish director Fatih Akin. Polluting Paradise is Middle Eastern Film Festival, various venues, Fri 16–Fri 30 May.
66 THE LIST 15 May–12 Jun 2014
HITLIST THE BEST FILM RELEASES & EVENTS
✽ Godzilla Gareth Edwards follows up his impressive low budget debut Monsters
with a remake of the famous Japanese horror story. The visuals are stunning and there are some thrilling showdowns to look forward to. General release from Thu 15 May.
✽ Concussion Intimate drama about a woman who decides to become a sex
worker after a bang to the head. Includes some interesting observations about female sexuality and gay marriage. See review, page 69. Limited release from Fri 16 May.
✽ Middle Eastern Film Festival See preview, left. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri
16–Fri 30 May.
✽ Two Faces of January Screenwriter Hossein Amini directs this Patricia
Highsmith adaptation about three Americans on the run in 1960s Athens. Features a stellar cast including Oscar Isaac, Kirsten Dunst and Viggo Mortensen. See interview, page 25, and review, page 68. General release from Fri 16 May.
✽ The Punk Singer Documentary about Bikini Kill frontwoman and riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna. Featuring Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, Joan Jett and Hanna’s husband, Beastie Boys’ musician Adam Horovitz. See review, page 68. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 23–Thu 29 May.
✽ Venus in Fur Roman Polanski’s latest is a smart, sizzling two-hander featuring top performances from Mathieu Almaric and Emmanuelle Seigner. See review, page 68. Limited release from Fri 30 May.
✽ UK Green Film Festival Feed your mind with this mini-fest about current
environmental issues. See preview, page 72. GFT, Glasgow, Sun 1–Sun 8 Jun.