With the 81st Venice International Film Festival in full swing and Arab films like Tunisia’s Aïcha and Khaled Mansour’s Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo making waves, let’s look back at Arab films that have shone at Venice over the past five years.
80th Edition: Behind the Mountains
Last year, Tunisian director Mohamed Ben Attia’s ‘Behind The Mountains’ brought a new meaning to freedom.
The film is all about Rafik, a man who has just completed a four-year prison term for a violent outburst. Upon his release, he kidnaps his young son and takes him to a remote place behind the mountains to show him that he can fly.
79th Edition: Sahbety
Taking the concept of gender roles and turning it over its head in a country that has a very strict outlook on gender is Kawthar Younes’ “Sahbety.” A couple swapped gender roles to explore new dynamics in their relationship, and because of that, controversy and outrage were sparked across the Egyptian community.
78th Edition: Amira
Imagine idolizing your father only to find out that he is not, in fact, your father. That is the story of Amira (Tara Abboud), written by the sibling trio of Mohamed, Khaled, and Shereen Diab. It was screened and received wide acclaim at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
77th Edition: The Man Who Sold His Skin
A Syrian refugee who becomes a conceptual art object, that is the basis of “The Man Who Sold His Skin”, a film by renowned director Kaouther Ben Hania all about a Syrian refugee whose only way to get to Europe is by becoming a walking canvas of a work of art.
76th Edition: The Perfect Candidate
Pushing for glorifying women in prominent positions across Saudi’s landscape, The Perfect Candidate by Haifa Mansour explores a determined Saudi doctor’s attempt to run for office in her local city.
By taking an over-the-year look at the Arab films dominating the Venice Film Festival, you get a glimpse of the power of society, culture, and politics in bringing each of these stories to life.