International: Middle East Videos
The Novelist's Films: Cinema of Nuri Bilge Ceylan
If Ceylan's previous films gave you the impression that he's making wordy filmed plays in a spectacular setting, 'About Dry Grasses' will surprise you.
INSHALLAH A BOY Review: A Situation To Crack Under
Last year, the Cannes Film Festival crowds screened its first ever Jordanian film, and simultaneously, the debut of director Amjad Al Rasheed. Inshallah A Boy is about the hypocrisy of vultures in times of grief, the societal constraints of a...
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Locarno 2023 Review: Dissent and Dreams Intersect in CRITICAL ZONE's Midnight Tehran Odyssey
Iranian director Ali Ahmadzadeh clinched the main award with its psychedelic portrayal of Tehran's nocturnal wanderings.
Exclusive: Poster & Trailer for Tunisian Supernatural Thriller ASHKAL
With a slightly new title, Ashkal: The Tunisian Investigation, this eeri mystery was something of a sleeper hit on the festival circuit in 2022. We're seeing a rise in more genre.leaning work coming from MENA countries; considering the rich folkloric...
Cannes 2023 Review: ABOUT DRY GRASSES, Turkish Drama Is Too Profound By Half
Nuri Bilge Ceylan returns with his seventh consecutive Cannes Competition entry, another sprawling three-hour plus drama about the human condition.
Rotterdam 2023 Review: ENDLESS BORDERS Aims For Humanism
Directed by Abbas Amini, the drama from Iran blends social melodrama and refugee thriller in an audience-driven narrative depicting a flight for freedom.
Venice 2022 Review: WORLD WAR III, Slapstick Iranian Thriller Unveils Trickling Terror
Directed by Houman Seyyedi, the wartime adventure is Iran's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
Neuchâtel 2022 Review: ASHKAL, Fire Without End
If a person sets themselves alight and no one sees it, does the act lose its meaning? Is a half-built housing complex still a potential home, or a constant reminder of impermenance? Can justice be served only through the law,...
Review: HIT THE ROAD, Beautifully Shot, Cleverly Written, Masterfully Directed
Before watching Hit the Road, I vaguely remember reading that it was Panah Panahi's debut. Upon finishing the film, I felt compelled to double check that it was indeed his debut. I could have blamed my bad memory; but I...
DVD Review: GOLDEN VOICES, Wistful, Unsentimental Nostalgia
Vladimir Friedman and Maria Belkin star in a tale of migration, told by Evgeny Ruman and Ziv Berkovich, coming soon on DVD from Music Box Films.
Exclusive THE TRANSLATOR Clip: Watching a Kidnapping
Watching a brazen kidnapping stirs a man to immediate action. Directed by Rana Kazkaz and Anas Khala, The Translator tells the story of Sami (Ziad Bakri), who fled war-torn Syria and has established a new life as a political exile...
LAYERS OF LIES: Ramin Sohrab Explodes Into Action In First Teaser For The Iranian Martial Arts Film
Long term readers of this site may recognize the name of Finland based Iranian martial artist Ramin Sohrab as this is not his first time in these pages. Sohrab has risen to global attention over the years through a series...
Review: A HERO By Any Other Name
Directed by Asghar Farhadi, the prickly drama from Iran stars Amir Jadidi, Mohsen Tanabandeh, and Fereshteh Sadre Orafaiy.
Lund Fantastic 2021 Review: IN THE SHADOWS, Resistance Grows
Erdem Tepegöz' science fiction mindfuck thriller In the Shadows has won awards in its home country of Turkey at several festivals, for best film, best director, best art direction and best music, and has received nominations aplenty in several other...
Now Streaming: COME FROM AWAY, THE DONUT KING, THE RABBI'S CAT
Singular visions from Canada (via Broadway), Cambodia (via U.S.) and Algeria (via France) explore terrorism, immigration and a talking cat.
Venice 2021 Review: REFLECTION, Resonant, Formalist Look at Russo-Ukrainian War
Akin to the works of Swedish master Roy Andersson, sans humor, combined with the gravitas and emotional punch of Andrey Zvyagintsev, the film is sort of a companion piece to 'Atlantis,' featuring truly impactful and impressive filmmaking.
Review: DACHRA, Pulsing With Dread in Tunisia
Aziz Jebali, Hela Ayed and Yassmine Dimassi star in a folk-horror picture from Tunisia, directed by Abdelhamid Bouchnak.
Review: THE ANTENNA Tunes In Surreal Horror Thrills
Gül Arici, Elif Cakman and Murat Saglam star in a horror thriller from Turkey, directed by Orcun Behram, now streaming on Shudder.
Review: THE PERFECT CANDIDATE, Woman Doctor Turned Politician
Mila Al Zahrani, Dae Al Hilali and Nora Al Awad star in a finely-turned modern-day drama from Saudi Arabia, directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour.
SCALES Trailer: Stunning Saudi Fable Heading to U.S. Cinemas in July
Shahad Ameen's debut feature film, the fable Scales, will open in cinemas in New York and Los Angeles on Friday, July 9th, with rollout to follow. Variance Films is handling the release, written and directed by Ameen. Scales was...
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