Both films reviewed below will be screened at the upcoming Safar Arab Film Festival at the Institute of Contemporary Arts London, September 14-18 Before the Summer Crowds, Egypt, 2015, directed by Mohamed Khan Opening night film for Safar, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London, 14th September 2016, http://www.arabbritishcentre.org.uk/event/summer-crowds-qabl-zahmet-al-saif/. In Arabic with English subtitles. […]
Category: Film and Media
Film review: Julieta
Julieta, Spain, 2016, directed by Pedro Almodovar In UK cinemas from 26th August 2016 Reviewed by Dr Franco Ferrarini, Gastroenterologist with a special interest in functional gastrointestinal disorders and their treatment with hypnosis The opening shot of Pedro Almodovar’s ‘Julieta’ shows a pulsating red cloth that looks like a curtain; as the […]
Film review: Crying with Laughter
Crying with Laughter, UK 2009 Written and directed by Justin Molotnikov, available on DVD Trailer https://vimeo.com/channels/wellington/17373244 Reviewed by Professor Robert Abrams, Professor of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell University, New York One can debate about what might be the central message of Crying With Laughter, the production with an oxymoronic title written and directed […]
Film review: The Carer
‘To age or not to age- that is the question’- review of The Carer – 5* UK, Hungary, 2016, directed by János Edelényi Starring: Brian Cox, Coco Konig, Emilia Fox, and Roger Moore In general release in the UK cinemas from 5th August 2016 https://www.regentstreetcinema.com/programme/the-carer/ Reviewed by Dr Khalid Ali, Screening Room Editor […]
Mohamed Khan – a tribute
Mohamed Khan – A visionary Egyptian film maker Mohamed Khan, (born on 26-10-1942), an Egyptian film director, script writer, and actor died on 26-7-2016 in Cairo following a short illness. He was one of the eminent film makers who led the 80’s wave of social realism in Arab cinema. Born to a Pakistani […]
Film Review: Notes on Blindness
Image courtesy of Curzon Artificial Eye Seeing blindness in the eye: Film review of Notes on Blindness, UK, 2016, directed by Peter Middleton and James Pinney Currently in UK cinemas Review by: Dr Khalid Ali, Screening room editor Literary work exploring visual impairment and blindness has always been rewarded by great critical reception–All the […]
Film Review: The Fugitive Doctor in ‘River’
‘River’, Canada, Laos, 2015, directed by Jamie M. Dagg Released on DVD and digital download on 18th July 2016 Reviewed by Dr Khalid Ali Doctors and crimes of professional misconduct have been the focus of films such as ‘Coma, USA, 1978’, and ‘Shutter Island, USA, 2010’, while doctors volunteering in NGOs in troubled zones […]
Film Review: stories from Arab women during the Spring Revolutions
‘Our oath’ short film, 2015, directed by Laura Finney I was intrigued and moved by ‘The trials of Spring’, a documentary film depicting the fight of Arab women during the Spring Revolutions in 2010 (http://www.trialsofspring.com/). The film portrays heart-felt human stories of women from Syria, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, Tunisia, and Egypt. Filming took place […]
The Screening Room: old age, loneliness and cinema
Loneliness, and Belonging in the Age of Photoshop Short film, directed by Amjad Abu Ala Review by Professor Robert C Abrams, Professor of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York There is a world of life portrayed in the few brief minutes of the poignant but joyous short film, ‘Studio’, by Amjad Abu Ala (in Arabic […]
The Screening Room: a review of the Lebanese film Ghadi
Music overcoming disability – Ghadi, Lebanon, 2013, directed by Amin Dora Reviewed by Dr Reem Gaafar, a Sudanese doctor, writer, filmmaker and graphic designer A special screening will take place at the Polish Cultural Centre, 238 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 0RF, Sapphire Room, 2nd Floor, at 8pm Friday 3rd June 2016. To book […]