Cannes 2020: The Three Middle Eastern Films That Made the Shortlist This Year!
The films of the official selection of 2020 are out! The line-up of the 73rd edition of the Cannes Film Festival has just been announced with 65 acclaimed films. Three Middle Eastern movies made it to the list, and we can’t wait to announce one of them walking home with a prize! Lebanese cinema is on top of its game with two of the three movies from Lebanon, and the third from Egypt.
The movies are Simple Passion (by Danielle Arbid), Souad (by Ayten Amin), and Broken Keyes (by Jimmy Keyrouz). We’re very proud of the three movies and are excited to get to watch all of them one day.
“Simple Passion” is a French-Speaking drama and an adaption of a novel of the same name that was written in 1992 by Annie Ernaux. When asked about why she chose this movie, Arbid said, “It is very difficult to find a book or film that mixes romantic love and sex. I wasn’t able to find many readings that explore these themes together. I want to tell a pure love story, something full of emotions, yet with simplicity, not a story revolving around a social or economic divide, nor revolving around an adulterous affair – simply about love itself.”
On the other hand, “Souad” follows the story of two teenage sisters who live in a Delta city in Egypt. One of them leads a virtual life, which she keeps as a secret from their conservative family. The film is co-written by director Ayten Amin and Mahmoud Ezzat in their second collaboration after ‘Villa 69’.
Last but not least, “Broken Keys” follows the story of a pianist that tries to escape his war-torn country where modern ways of living and music have been banned by an extremist group. He is forced to sell his piano to gather money and leave. But things entangle when his piano is shot. Karim then embarks on a dangerous quest to repair his broken keys.
Since the festival’s physical edition was canceled in May following the French government’s ban on large-scale events, the festival grouped and presented all the movies in one single list, without placing them in their traditional categories. But we’re still hoping that they’ll be winning some awards at the prestigious festival.
