film & main events reviews

Film Reviews
Brief Synopsis of Main Events

Film Reviews

My Best Friend s Wedding

USA 1997, Dir: T.H.Hogan, 100 min, English
A high-spirited romantic comedy that serves u something wild, something new, something touching and something truly hilarious. Roberts dazzles as commitment-shy Jules Potter, who reluctantly realizes she is in love with her best friend Michael (Mulroney). There is just one catch: He's about to marry someone else. Comically crazed and full of devious lans, Jules will do any thing to steal him back … except tell him the simple truth. An enchanting romantic comedy. El ireh, Saturday 08, Tuesday 18, and Saturday 29 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

Ever After

USA 1998, Dir. Andy Tennant, 100 min, English
"A dazzling rendering of the Cinderella story" A "modern" young woman of the 16th century, Danielle (Barrymore), is as independent and wise as she is beautiful and kind. Against remarkable odds, she stands up to her scheming step mother (Huston)and works miracles on the lives of everyone around her, including the crown prince of France (Dougray Scott)! Now you can relive this captivating, contemporary retelling of the classic fairy tale. El Bireh, Thursday 06 and Sunday 16 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

When A Man Loves A Woman

USA 1997, Dir: Lewis Mandoki, 1 6 min, English
Two of Hollywood's hottest stars, Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia, deliver critically acclaimed performances in this inspiring motion picture. Alice and Michael (Ryan and Garcia) are a passionate couple whose once-stable marriage is rocked by her increasing dependence on alcohol. As they strive to over come this challenge, they discover a renewed sense of love and commitment. El Bireh, Tuesday 04 and 25 July and Saturday 15 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

Jack

USA 1997, Dir. Francis F. Coppola, 113 min., English
Robin Williams stars as a mischievous 10-year old who acts like any other boy his age, except he's in a grown-u 's body. It's nonstop laughs as Jack embarks on the greatest adventure of his life… the fifth grade. In William's wildest role ever, you're taken on a hilarious ride as Jack explores the u s and downs of life from a kid's point of view…. El Bireh, Saturday 01, and Sunday 23 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

My Very own Garden

Palestine 000, Dir. Hayyan Jobeh, 30 minutes
The Syrian Golan heights offer a spectacular unforgettable view: the high mountains, the green valleys, abundant water streams, a le and cherry orchards, and the good people. However, the recurrent scene that dominates the area is the one imposed by the Israeli occupation forces: the military cam s and mine fields, two sights that make all of nature's beautiful scheme go to waste, and transforms the area into a nightmare. The mine fields are not inert, they have taken away many innocent lives from amongst the Golan residents, particularly farmers and children. This documentary is a looking glass into the reality of the occupied Golan heights, an outcry for the innocent souls of the children and farmers who were laying or earning their livelihood when their lives were suddenly swept away. El Bireh, Thursday 20 and Sunday 30 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

Brave Heart

USA 1995, Dir. Mel Gibson, 177 minutes, English
The film is about the struggle of the Scottish people against the English occupation in the 13^th century. It is an e ic of the Middle Ages based on the legend of Sir William Wallace who led his eo le in an u rising against the Tyrant King Edward I in an attempt to avenge the death of his bride on the hands of the English occupation soldiers. Wallace succeeds in s reading an everlasting spirit of freedom in Scotland. El Bireh, Sunday 09 and Saturday 22 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

NAIM & WADEE’A

Palestine 1999, Dir. Najwa Najjar, 20 minutes, Arabic with English subtitles.
NAIM & WADEE'A is a 20-minute documentary on re-1948 Jaffa. The documentary explores social life in Jaffa through a miniature portrait of a Palestinian cou le, Wadee'a Aghabi and Naim Azar , the director's grand parents who lived in the city. The documentary works through available resources picturing Palestinian life, including an extensive family photo album with pictures dating to the 19 0's, seen for the first time in the film; archival photographs from various collections on Jaffa dating 19 0-40; rare archival footage on Jaffa 19 0-40's; and radio broadcasts of the same time period, used mainly as historical markers. El Bireh, Sunday 02 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

Stepmom

USA 1999, Dir. Chris Columbus, 100 min., English
Jackie (Susan Sarandon) and Isabel (Julia Roberts) have nothing in common - one is the ideal mother, the other is struggling to be any kind of mother - until circumstances force them to share a family and put aside their mutual hostility for the sake of their two children. They discover how precious life, love, and the ties that bind really are. A movie about real life with all the laughs and tears of real families. El Bireh, Tuesday 11 and Thursday 7 July 0:00, Popular Art Center.

Live music from Beirut

Beirut 1987, Ziad Rahbani, NTV & By ass Productions, 5 minutes, Arabic A rare film on the work of Lebanese musician Ziad Rahbani which provides a lively presentation of his musical works in his satirical mode of presentation. El Bireh, Thursday 13 July 20:00, Popular Art Center.

Men in Black

USA 1997, Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld and Donald Peterman
A hilariously stoic to -secret federal agent and his wisecracking homeboy partner don their matching Ray-Bans and skinny black ties and proceed to use all of their considerable weaponry and wit to save the world from an undocumented and extremely unfriendly, mantis-like alien. Ramallah, Tuesday 04, Thursday 11, Friday 07, Monday 10 July 18:00 and Wednesday 05 and 12, Thursday 06, and Monday 10 at 18:00 and 21:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

The Mask of Zorro

USA 1998, Directed by: Martin Cam bell.
Don Diego de la Vega ( Hopkins ) recruits Alejandro Murieta ( Banderas ) to become his replacement as Zorro, the legendary hero. Together, they infiltrate the circle of Don Raphael the fiercest of the Spanish tyrants. Armed with his mask, sword, whip and jet-black stallion, Tornado, the new Zorro embarks on a mission to stop Don Raphael's lot to buy California, set right twenty years of wrongs, bring justice to the people ensnared by Spanish greed, and win the heart of Elma - Don Diego's daughter. Ramallah, Thursday 13, Saturday 15, Sunday 16, Tuesday 18 July 18:00 and Friday 14, Monday 17 and 24 and 31 July at 18:00 and 21:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

There s Some thing about Mary

USA, 1998, Directed by:
Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly Non-holds-barred comedy tour de force in which 30-something Stiller locates and courts his high school dream girl (Diaz), unwittingly enlisting the help of some of her more hilariously psychotic suitors. In-your-face sight gags and unapologetic coarseness disguise a riotously funny love story that is actually very sweet. Be amazed at the impeccable casting and stellar performances of the supporting layers. Ramallah, Thursday 20 and Tuesday 25 July at 18:00 and Wednesday 19, Friday 21, Saturday 22, and Sunday 23 July at 18:00 and 21:00.

Fools’ Dinner ( Le Diner de cons )

France 1997, Directed by: Francis Veber, 80 min, English & Arabic Subtitles
A group of friends agreed to have dinner together and decided to call it the fools' dinner because the condition for this dinner was that each one of them should get a stupid companion and the winner will be the one accompanied by the most foolish person. In that night the winner was "Prochan " who had the suitable companion, " Pieno ", an accountant for the Ministry of Finance. What no one knows, however, is that " Pieno " was the most unlucky person in the world and his company at dinner transferred his misfortune to them. Ramallah, Tuesday 04 and 18 July 21:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

Plain Sun ( Plein Soleil )

France 1960, Dir. Rene Clement,Color, 1 0 min, Arabic subtitles
An American millionaire sends " Tom Ribally " to Italy to bring him back his son " Phillipe ", but Phillipe refuses to come back with him. later on " Ribally " takes " Phillipe " along whim on a Yacht where he kills him, and impersonates his character. Ramallah, Tuesday 11 July 21:00, Al Kasaba theatre.
Nelly and Mr. Arnaud ( Nelly Et Monsieur Arnaud ) France1995, Dir. Claude Saurner 105 min, Arabic and English subtitles An old rich man meets a lady who had a shock in her marriage life, they have an uneasy relationship shrouded with doubt and gossi . Ramallah, Tuesday 25 July 21:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

Brief Synopsis of Main Events

Play: The Immigrant ( Al Muhajer )

Written by: George Shahada Adapted by: George Ibrahim Directed by: Muhammad Khomais
"Al Muhajer", meaning the immigrant, is an adaptation of George Shahada's "The Immigrant of Brisbane." The lay delves deeply into the human agony, which accompanied the Palestinians' experience of immigration, an experience that deserves to be described as very unique. Ramallah, Friday 07 July 20:00, Al Kasaba theatre

Play: The Clown

Written by: Mohammed Al Mghout Ada ted by: Makram Khoury, George Ibrahim & Hussam abu Esheh Directed by: Makram Khoury
Al Kasaba Production of the Clown, tackles a central issue, namely the city of Jerusalem and its isolation, land confiscation, its siege and the settlements imprisoning it. The lay takes lace in one of its old streets where the group presents its show in one of the cafes and sheds light on what is happening in the Arab world in terms of deterioration, retardation and under-development. Ramallah, Thursday13 , Saturday15, and Sunday 16 July 20:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

Play: Ad’ kur (I remember)

Al-Midan Theater, Haifa-Nazareth Written by: Shakeeb Jahshan Director and Music composition: Nabil Azar Choreography by: Livana Kurin
Through important life intervals within the lay, memory takes us from childhood into young age revealing and exhibiting the main theme of the experience of Al-Nakbeh (The Palestinian catastrophe of 1948)which has been clearly experienced by this generation that has not only lived through but also survived its consequences and managed to co e with all of its calamities. Jerusalem, Friday 30 June 20:00, Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: The Goat Island

Al-Midan Theater, Haifa-Nazareth Written by: Ugo Petty Adapted & Directed by: Mazen Ghatas
Three lonely women live on an island. Their life is attached to the goats they are raising. The housewife, abandoned by her husband, chooses to stay on the island as a means of self- punishment. The second, the sister-in-law who was not content with the marriage of her brother in the first lace, decides to free herself from the animals' manure and age of slavery and serfdom. The third, the daughter of the fleeing man, seeks, out of fear, good life and a mother's affection. This unharmed world of theirs is suddenly fractured by the visit of a strange man, who visualizes the lace as heaven, compared to what he has been through. He imposes himself and dominates the three women. One after the other, each of the helpless women becomes attached to the man and falls in love with him. Consequently, jealousy gets nourished and hell prevails. Jerusalem, Saturday 01 July 20:00, The Palestinian National Theatre

Play: The Mask

The Palestinian National Theatre, Jerusalem Written by: Mamdouh Odwan Music by: Sa'id Murad Directed by: Sameh Hijazi
The human being is a t to conceal his inner self in order to be accommodated by the society. While a moment of honesty could easily o out to reveal what is really and incredibly hidden within. This lay portrays a woman in this situation. She expresses lust for a robber who barges into her room at night. Rejected, she asks him for the impossible. Jerusalem, Sunday 02 July 20:00, The Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: Az Zeir Salem

Al Kasaba Theatre (Jerusalem & Ramallah) Adapted by: George Ibrahim Music by: Saed Murad Directed by: Muhammed Khomais
According to the o ular story, Al Tobe'a Hassan has been murdered by Kulaib. Hassan's sister plotted for revenge using Jassas, Kulaib's cousin. Al Zeir Salem rushes for vengeance, inciting the famous so-called war of Basous, named after a she-camel used in the conspiracy. The war extended for a long time massacring an entire generation. However, a new generation emerges, impassioned and aiming to put an end to this war. The lay resents the world-known saga in a unique style. Jerusalem, Monday 03 July 20:00, The Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: Desperate Impressions

Amalgama Group (Brazil) Concept and acted by: Ann Westfal Music by: Joaa Mandes Directed by: Amalgama Group
The lay is the last art of a trilogy based on poetry written by Jim Morrison. It searches for the inner feelings that attain harmony and truth. This trilogy comes as the outcome of a joint effort between the actress and the music composer who have both achieved a mutual understanding of the language of the aesthetics that exists between music and theatre. The lay speaks the dim art of the human brain that we feel but are ignorant of. Jerusalem, Tuesday 04 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: Christine Lafranzwatter

Visions for the Production of Theatre and Cinema (Norway) Written by: Sigrid Ondset Acted by: Johnny Darr Music by: Arleid Anderson Light Designed by: Stian Lindquist The lay is written after the most famous trilogy Norway has ever known. The trilogy (The Coronet, Mrs. Hosaby, The Cross) reflect a good deal of the author's life as well as a huge portion of the life of the contemporary woman in her country. She based what she wrote on the 'human heart' that does not change while conduct, ethics and values do during the course of life. Jerusalem, Wednesday 05 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: Abu-Arab shoved in the corner

Al- Bayader Theatric al Troupe, Gaza Concept by: Rajab Abu Sirriyyeh Improvised and a ted by: Ali Abu Yaseen Directed by: Na'im Nasser
The closure of the occupied territories forces this man to stay home in his old room and among his memories revealed by old pictures, books and tapes. His sentiments swing between the culture of his memoirs and the status of the force major. His dreams get choked and suffocated, the fact that makes him express his inner self and engage in an internal dialogue. This debate appears sometimes as crystal-clear wisdom and in other times reveals itself as mere hallucination. Jerusalem, Thursday 06 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: One for the Road

The Palestinian National Theatre, Jerusalem Written by: Harold Pinter Translated & Directed by : Sameh Hijazi
In an atmosphere of universal domination, can democracy prevail in underdeveloped countries that are still trying to find their way to good governance? The lay portrays that rites, when transformed to those who have founded their own systems, become tools to suppress the opposition of any kind through violence, as opposed to maintaining mutual dialogue that real democracy is based u on. Jerusalem, Friday 07 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: The Master and the Slave

Teater Theatre, Germany Acted by: Khalil Shawqi, Munther Hilmi Directed by: Awni Karroumi
The master is a poet who spent 0 years of his life meditating and writing. The problem of the master lies in the fact that he takes quick decisions and later retreats from executing them, while the slave feels obliged to encourage his master and console him . It is in the slave that the experience of life lies and it is he who re resents the lay's philosophy on the relationship between thought, management and action. Jerusalem, Saturday 08 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre

Play: Fear

The Day Theatre, Ramallah Scenario and Direction by: Fathi Abdel Rahman
Based on music and mime, this show a roaches the issue of fear from its different dimensions. It portrays the fear from self and others, from the body and the society's stand point, from famine, love and marriage, from sickness and death, from scientific accomplishments and their impact on the future. This fear transforms life into fantasy, a bitter reality, but also an aspiration that deto be achieved. Jerusalem, Sunday 09 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: Poison

Kranish for Production, Germany A new musical drama Text and Direction: Christine Sohn Music : Joerg Lehnardt
Based on words and music, this is a lay of resistance featuring a small musical troupe led by a poet, his sister and her boyfriend. This troupe wants to shoot a film about banned literary writers: the rock poet Jim Morrison, Arthur Rambo and Antonio Artaud. Following the detention of their leader, the troupe tries to lobby for his release, u on which he returns broken and defeated. He loses his identity and transforms into a caricature figure. But facts change when we suddenly hear the voice of a child announcing the downfall of the system. Jerusalem, Monday 10 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre.

Play: Abu Marmar

Al-Kasaba Theatre (Jerusalem & Ramallah) Research and Preparation by: Muhammad Bakri & Khaled Hourani A ted & Directed by: Muhammad Bakri
The Palestinian detainees in the Israeli prisons are subjected to methods of torture that surpass imagination. They endure incredible abuse which damages their psyche. Abu Marmar has gone through this prolonged journey of torment and agony. Not only is he shouldering this experiences, but he also empathizes with the experiences of his colleagues . He retains all of these memories only to reflect on them through narrating the stories. Jerusalem, Wednesday 12 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre. Ramallah, Sunday 09, Wednesday 26, Friday 28 July 20:00, Al Kasaba Theatre.

Play: Cloudy Moon

Al-Saraya Theatre (Jaffa) Written by: Imad Jabarin Directed by: Adeeb Jahshan
Two unem loyed youngsters meet daily in a certain lace waiting for someone who never comes. During this time, we get to learn about their view points on how they aim to realize their dreams through this person who never shows u .. Jerusalem, Thursday 13 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre

Play: Bab esh Shams ( Door of the Sun)

Al-Kasaba Theatre, Ramallah After the original novel by: Elias Khoury Adapted by: Najeeb Ghlal & George Ibrahim Dire ted by: Najeeb Ghlal
The old warrior lies unconscious on his bed. His nurse, is actually hiding from something of a vendetta. In his solitude, the nurse talks to a patient who cannot hear, and recollects his memories. He goes on to narrate true stories of Palestinian refugees, exodus, and revolution, in an attempt to awake the warrior from his coma. Jerusalem, Friday 14 July 20:00, the Palestinian National Theatre. Ramallah, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July 20:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

Dance performance: Al-Birjawi

First Ramallah Dan e group production 2000 The secret love story between Musallam Al-Jawal and Zarqa' Al-Muqeema is the latest roduction of Sarriyyat Ramallah Trou e for Music and Dance. Based on the popular story of "Ma'asalameh Ya' Imsallam", this story tells of Musallam and his wanderings to fulfill his people's needs. However, in reality, the trip is a quest for experience, knowledge and courage. The Sarriyyat Ramallah troupe is a Palestinian folkloric dance and music group . Its work, even though Palestinian by definition, is also based on the wider Arab culture. Ramallah, 20 July 20:00, Al Kasaba theatre.

Children s Play: The Golden Fish

Adaptation: Al Kasaba Theatre Directed by: Vadim Dikerman
This lay is taken from world Literature. It resents the eternal struggle between good and evil. Ramallah, Monday 17, 24 and 31 July 11:00, Al Kasaba theatre.