The official contest at the ongoing Cairo Film Festival is witnessing a great deal of competition between the Egyptian film Al Asifa, directed by Khaled Youssef and the Iranian film Usturat Al Hub (The Legend of Love), by Farhad Mahran Anfar.
According to Agence France Presse, the official contest bases the choice of its winner on various factors including the movie’s humanitarian and emotional degrees and the expertise in production, editing and direction.
Al Asifa reflects the opinion of its director, Yousef, towards the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990 through an Egyptian mother Huda, played by Yusra, who finds out that her two sons have decided to join the war. The problem, however, is that while one of her sons joins the Iraqi army, another joins Egypt’s ranks.
Egypt, during the Gulf War was a strong ally of Kuwait.
The film was shown on the opening day of the festival and was attended by film critics and journalists from Egypt and other foreign countries.
Meanwhile, it is expected that those attendees will be watching the Iranian movie today, November 15, 2000.
Usturat Al Hub depicts the story of a young girl, Khazar, who climbs the mountains of Kurdistan looking for the man she loves, Horam, who left her a few year back.
At the time, Horam had decided that he wanted to quit his medical degree in order to help his village’s people.
The film stars Mariam Maqdam and Youssef Mradian.
Tonight is also special to those who support the Intifada, where the second of the two scheduled ‘Palestinian’ movies will show.
Fadwa…Hikayat Sha’aira Min Filisteen, (Fadwa… The Story of a Poet From Palestine), will be shown.
The film, which depicts the life story of famous Palestinian poet Fadwa Touqan, was directed by Liana Badr.
Other movies expected in tonight’s itinerary include the Holland finlm The Valley , which revolves around a girl, Joanna, who feels lost after her boyfriend deserts her and leaves her at a mental institution in Roterdam.
The loneliness and sadness push Joanna to befriend some people who only add to her misery.
However, everything changes one day when she decides to watch a theatrical play.
Joanna forms a relationship with the hero of the play and her life changes from there on
This movie stars Tama Rafan Droub, Joshim Basimir and is directed by Fruki Fokima.
Another film expected today is an Icelandish production, The Utmost Failure, directed by Ranjir Brajson. – Albawaba.com.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
