Category: Middle Eastern
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“A Man Returned” – The Other Side of the Refugee Crisis
Alongside A Drowning Man, I Signed The Petition, 3 Logical Exits, and A World Not Ours, A Man Returned continues to paint a realistic portrait of the Refugee Crisis that eschews the Western gaze and stereotype. These are real portraits painted by a director with lived experience, cultural connection and an amazing eye for visuals.
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‘The Royal Treatment’ Comes to Manhattan
Izzy and Prince Thomas learn that taking control of their own destiny requires following their hearts and making their own decisions.
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‘A Drowning Man’ Submerges Viewers in the Unseen of the Refugee Crisis
“A Drowning Man” (2017) explores the unseen aspects of the Refugee Crisis. In, 15 far-too-short minutes, viewers are given a detailed snapshot of what it’s like for a refugee to drown in the waters of poverty and otherness while trying to navigate a land whose promise has worn off, and only ‘strange’ remains.
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Sand Storm: A Look Into Bedouin Culture and the Pressure Women Feel to Keep Tradition Alive
This 2016 winner of an Ophir Award for Best Film focuses on the forbidden romance of a young, Bedouin woman and the ramifications it has for her family, her identity, and her culture.
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The Bubble: A Spoonful of Comedy Doesn’t Make the Social Commentary Go Down
Ultimately the problem with The Bubble is that it plays everything for laughs to get around the audience’s defenses. But it comes off like a privileged white male thinking that ridiculing everyone else equally is the road to equality. And it’s not. And it’s definitely not funny to pretend that it is.
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The Prince of Egypt: An Underrated Gem
The film follows the biblical story of Moses, from his time as a prince of Egypt, to a leader for the people of Israel. It’s a film that works brilliantly in animation, and is one that both children and adults can; enjoy despite its religious contexts, it is friendly to general audiences.
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Revisiting ‘A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’: The Vamp, the Shape-shifter, and the Hybrid
Who said Batman is the only hero to rock the black cape? This article will explore vampires as trans allegories and the femme fatale trope being remastered.
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Broken Systems: Racism and Capitalism in “My Beautiful Laundrette”
My Beautiful Laundrette is often referenced as a positive LGBTQIA+ film because our two main characters are in a homosexual relationship with no shame, fear of violence or criticism. The struggle is not their sexuality. It is the treatment of the Pakistani citizens in England.
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‘Dune’ Disappoints
Dune has stunning visuals, a striking soundtrack, and great performances. But it has issues everywhere from its pacing, to its story, to its diverse representation.
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Dune (2021): An Islam-Inspired Theme With Powerful Aesthetics, but Reminiscent of Lynch
Villeneuve’s Dune is a masterpiece for its crafting process, but references to David Lynch’s picture are sometimes too obvious.