In the Name of the Father (UK 1992, Dir. Jim Sheridan, 127 min., English) In the Name of the Father tells the true saga of Gerry Conlon, a petty thief in strife-torn '70s Belfast. Gerry's main interests are getting drunk and partying, much to the dismay of his quiet, frail father, Guiseppe. When Gerry angers the IRA, his father sends him to England, where his antics land him in the wrong place at the wrong time. Innocent, but forced to confess to a savage terrorist bombing, he is sentenced to life imprisonment as one of the "Guilford Four". Working with a fiercely dedicated lawyer, Gerry is determined to prove his innocence and expose the truth behind one of the most shameful legal events in recent history. El Bireh, Saturday 11 and Thursday 16 and Wednesday 22 December 22:00, Popular Art Center.

 

City of Angels (USA 1998, Dir. Brad Silberling, 114 min., English) Nicholas Cage is Seth, an Angel who must decide if he will forsake his immortality and become human, on the chance that the woman of his dreams, Maggie (played by Meg Ryan), might love him. A pragmatic heart surgeon, Maggie doesn't believe in angels… until she meets Seth. El Bireh, Monday 20 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Fools Rush In (USA 1995, Dir. Andy Tennant, 105 min., English) Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) is a straight-laced corporate type from Manhattan. Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hayek) is a fiery Mexican American. When the two meet in Las Vegas, the sparks fly- but neither of them gave a thought to where a single night of passion could lead. A funny and romantic love story in reverse, Fools Rush In tells the story of fated lovers trying their luck at the world's oldest game… love. El Bireh Wednesday 08 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Fargo (USA 1995, Dir. Joel Coen, 94 min., English) Jerry Lundegaad arranges for his wife to be kidnapped in the hope that splitting the ransom with the kidnappers will enable him to finance a new business venture. When one of the kidnappers goes off the rails it falls to Marge Gunderson, Chief of the Brainered Police Department, to set things right. El Bireh Sunday 12 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

All the President's Men (USA 1976, Dir. Alan Pakula, 132 min., English) Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book and hailed as the most devastating detective story of this century, this film was released only 3 years after the sensation of Water Gate. It tells the story of two unknown reporters who took on the White House, the FBI, the CIA, and the IRS. To this day the identity of their mysterious informer nicknamed 'Deep Throat" remains unknown. The film is a dramatic, tense, and accurate account of the newspaper professionals who follow the trail through doubts, denials, and discouragement. El Bireh Tuesday 14 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Kundun (USA 1996, Dir. Martin Scorsese, 135 min., English) Praised as one of the best films of the year, it is the incredible true story of one of the world's most fascinating leaders - Tibet's Dalai Lama- and his daring struggle to rule a nation at one of the most challenging times in its history. With Oscar nominated score by renowned composer Philip Glass, this extraordinary film has been greeted with both controversy and worldwide acclaim. El Bireh Saturday 18 and Thursday 23 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Face/Off (USA 1998, Dir. John Woo, 133 min., English) Nicholas Cage and John Travolta battle head to head in Face/Off, the ultimate cat and mouse thriller. To avenge the senseless murder of his son, FBI agent Sean Archer (Travolta) undergoes a radical new surgery allowing him to switch faces with the comatose terrorist Caster Troy (Cage) and assumes his identity. But when Caster awakens and assumes Sean's identity, the real Sean is thrust into an unimaginable nightmare fighting not only for his life, but also those of his wife and daughter. El Bireh Wednesday 15 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Date Wine (Egypt, Dir. Radwan al Kashef, 110 min., Arabic with English subtitles) All the able men of a small Egyptian village migrate in search of wealth, except for Ahmad, on the threshold of adolescence, who insists on staying behind in the hope of fulfilling his dream of climbing "Al Alia", the tallest palm tree in the village. In the absence of the village men, however, the women quickly see Ahmad as the man of the village - a role he rejects and does his best to avoid. When the migrant men return, the village is thrown into turmoil. El Bireh, Sunday 19 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Broken Wings (Lebanon, Dir. Yousef Maalouf, 90 min., Arabic with English subtitles) In "Broken Wings" the Lebanese artist/poet Khalil Gibran reveals the same artistry and wisdom that have enshrined his name in the hearts of millions. With great sensitivity and lyricism, Gibran describes his youthful passion for his first love, Selma Karamy. But theirs was a love doomed from the beginning: social conventions and family tensions eventually force Selma to marry another man. El Bireh, Tuesday 21 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Waller's Last Trip (Germany 1988, dir. Christian Wagner, 100 min., German with English subtitles) Waller, an old track inspector, looks back on his life as he walks his section of the track for the last time. The railway line in his idyllic valley is to be closed. His life has been closely associated with the history of this railway line. As his steps measure the rails and sleepers, the memories of the past come back to him, and his walk along the line becomes a walk back through the years. When he passes the last buffer of his line, the rails seem to disappear. El Bireh, Tuesday 07 and Monday 13 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

Tango of Yearning (Dir. Mohammad Souid, 1998, 60 min. b&w, Arabic and French with English subtitles). Tango of Yearning is a documentary video work based on its director's memories of war, love, and cinema, as well as his experience in postwar Beirut. In this framework the film deals with the theme of forgiveness and its meaning in a harmful society. The film is written and directed by Mohammad Soueid, produced by Ayloul and Hazar film, 1998. The film was awarded best documentary director prize at the Beirut International Film Festival in October 1999. Ramallah, Thursday 16 December 19:30, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center.

 

Lebanon… bits and pieces (Lebanon, dir. Olga Nakkash, 82 min., Arabic with French subtitles). This is a documentary film which explores life in postwar Beirut. Lebanese people from different backgrounds meet in the film where every one talks about his/her Beirut. Ramallah, Saturday 23 December 19:30, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center.

 

Battle of Algiers (France 1966, dir. Gillo Pontecorov, 125 min., b&w, French with English subtitles) Shot on location, and starring actual FLN rebels, "The Battle of Algiers" is one of the most viciously realistic films of all times. Initially banned by the French government, it quickly won wide acclaim; an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film and garnishing 11 international awards. Struggling to rid their country of French colonialism, Ali La Pointe and his group paint the streets of Casbah red with the blood of their enemies. Children shoot soldiers at point blank range. Women plant bombs in Cafes. Soon the entire Arab population builds to extreme fervor. French colonel Philippe Mathieu, a highly decorated officer, is called upon to squash the uprising. But Algiers is on fire and the battle has just begun. El Bireh, Thursday 09 December 20:00, Popular Art Center.

 

The Intruder (Spain 1993, Dir. Vicente Aranda, 86 min., Spanish with English subtitles) Louisa and Angel and Ramiro are close childhood friends. Louisa marries Angel. With time, she discovered that her true love is Ramiro. Angel shows understanding and decides to disappear from their lives leaving them to enjoy their love. Fifteen years later, Louisa meets Angel by chance in a park. Angel seems very sick and poor, so both her and Ramiro decide to take him in. Little did they know that they were taking an intruder into their home. El Bireh Saturday 04 December 19:30, Popular Art Center.

 

Letters from Alou (Spain 1990, d. Montixo Armendariz, 96 min., Spanish with English subtitles) A group of Africans secretly arrive to the coast of South Spain after a tragic adventure. Alou, 28, from Senegal, is one of them. His frient Moulay who lives in Catalonia encourages him to emigrate offering him a good work opportunity. He works as an agricultural worker and earns some money to continue his trip up north looking for his friend. His money is stolen and he is forced to look for another job. As he moves from one job to another he runs into adventures. El Bireh, Wednesday 01 December 19:30, Popular Art Center.

 

Boana (Spain 1996, dir. Emmanuel Uribe, 88 min., Spanish with English subtitles) Antonio, a cab driver, decides to go with his family, one winter Sunday, to a remote beach. As they look for seashells the youngest daughter sees a black man called Ombasi who runs after her asking for help. Antonio cannot understand what he's saying and considers his family to be in danger. A series of events and misunderstand- ings eventually lead to tragedy. El Bireh Thursday 02 December 19:30, Popular Art Center.