The first edition will be presided over by Palestinian actress and director Hiam Abbass
Paris’s Institute of the Arab World is set to revive its festival activities this June with the launch of the new Arab Film Festival, the first edition of which will be presided over by Palestinian actress and director Hiam Abbass.
The new event will present some 70 films hailing from the Arab world across all genres.
A competitive feature line-up will showcase 13 recent titles from the Arab world including Palestinian director Muayad Alayan’s The Reports on Sarah and Salim, which premiered to critical acclaim at Rotterdam,...
Paris’s Institute of the Arab World is set to revive its festival activities this June with the launch of the new Arab Film Festival, the first edition of which will be presided over by Palestinian actress and director Hiam Abbass.
The new event will present some 70 films hailing from the Arab world across all genres.
A competitive feature line-up will showcase 13 recent titles from the Arab world including Palestinian director Muayad Alayan’s The Reports on Sarah and Salim, which premiered to critical acclaim at Rotterdam,...
- 5/15/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
A sort of French-Arabic variation on "Footloose", Mahmoud Zemmouri's feature "100% Arabica," which apparently caused Islamic fundamentalists to issue death threats against the filmmaker, is a sweetly old-fashioned tale that reaffirms the power of music to overcome the forces of societal repression. In this case, the music is rai, a style of Algerian folk music bearing traces of such disparate musical forms as flamenco, jazz, rock and even rap. The music is known for the pointed social commentary of its lyrics, but you'll have to Take That on faith because they mostly go untranslated here.
The film prominently features two reigning stars of the genre, Cheb Khaled and Cheb Mami (Sting's recent collaborator). They, rather than the formulaic plot or uncompelling filmmaking, are the main reason to see this effort, playing at New York's Cinema Village.
The pair play members of rai group Rap Oriental, centered in a Parisian community dominated by Algerian immigrants. The town is controlled by Slimane (Mouss), the corrupt leader of the local mosque who often shakes down the local merchants. Slimane sees the music of Rap Oriental as a threat, especially because it is so popular with the local youth. His efforts to thwart the musicians by focusing the community's wrath against them is the main thrust of the story.
The joyously infectious music and the considerable charisma of the band are the chief pleasures of this crudely told tale. Fortunately, the frequent musical numbers will satisfy fans of world music who are eager for a cinematic dose of their icons.
100% ARABICA
Art Mattan Prods.
Director-producer: Mahmoud Zemmouri
Screenwriters: Mahmoud Zemmouri,
Marie-Laurence Attias
Director of photography: Noel Very
Editor: Youcef Tobni
Costume designer: Mahadevi Apavou
Color/stereo
Cast:
Rachid: Cheb Khaled
Krimo: Cheb Mami
Slimane: Mouss
Madjid: Majim Laouriga
Running time - 86 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The film prominently features two reigning stars of the genre, Cheb Khaled and Cheb Mami (Sting's recent collaborator). They, rather than the formulaic plot or uncompelling filmmaking, are the main reason to see this effort, playing at New York's Cinema Village.
The pair play members of rai group Rap Oriental, centered in a Parisian community dominated by Algerian immigrants. The town is controlled by Slimane (Mouss), the corrupt leader of the local mosque who often shakes down the local merchants. Slimane sees the music of Rap Oriental as a threat, especially because it is so popular with the local youth. His efforts to thwart the musicians by focusing the community's wrath against them is the main thrust of the story.
The joyously infectious music and the considerable charisma of the band are the chief pleasures of this crudely told tale. Fortunately, the frequent musical numbers will satisfy fans of world music who are eager for a cinematic dose of their icons.
100% ARABICA
Art Mattan Prods.
Director-producer: Mahmoud Zemmouri
Screenwriters: Mahmoud Zemmouri,
Marie-Laurence Attias
Director of photography: Noel Very
Editor: Youcef Tobni
Costume designer: Mahadevi Apavou
Color/stereo
Cast:
Rachid: Cheb Khaled
Krimo: Cheb Mami
Slimane: Mouss
Madjid: Majim Laouriga
Running time - 86 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/23/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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