Popular Cannes film reflects 'Arab Spring' spirit

0 CommentsPrint E-mail China Daily, May 23, 2011
Adjust font size:

 

Director Radu Mihaileanu (3rd R) and cast members (L - R) Hiam Abbas, Sabrina Ouazani, Hafsia Herzi, Leila Bekhti and Biyouna pose during red carpet arrivals for the film "La Source des Femmes", in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival, May 21, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]?

A film about a woman taking a stand against men in a North African village won cheers in Cannes Saturday, with some viewers moved by its expression of the spirit of the "Arab Spring" uprisings.

A small handful of critics also booed during the packed screening of "The Source," directed by Radu Mihaileanu, later telling journalists they found its depiction of Arab life over simplistic.

But the overwhelming majority of critics in the audience praised its resonance with real-life events, saying they would not be surprised to see it scoop a big prize at the annual film festival.

The Source was the last of 20 films shown in the festival's main competition ahead of the closing ceremony Sunday where the awards will be announced including the Palme d'Or for best picture.

Also premiered Saturday was "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia," a slow-paced, subtle examination of cruelty and betrayal by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

The Source opens by declaring itself a fairytale in which Leila, the beautiful and feisty wife of teacher Sami, declares a "love strike," or ban on all sex, until the men in her village agree to carry the water from a spring high in the mountains.

In a time of economic hardship and unemployment, men sit and sip tea all day while women lug heavy loads up steep paths.

Leila decides to take a stand when her friend falls and loses her baby.

Men and women fall out, with violent consequences. Women bicker about the value of tradition over change while conservative clerics try to exploit the village's divisions.

"NEED FOR MORE REVOLUTIONS"

Mihaileanu, a Romanian-born French director, told a news conference in Cannes that the film was partly a reflection of the recent uprisings in Tunisia and across the Arab world.

"There has been tremendous hope since last December. There is hope for freedom and a strong desire to get rid of those in power and there is the idea of people deciding their own destiny," he said.

He added that revolution on the streets of Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Bahrain had yet to be matched by a change in people's homes.

"There is a second revolution which is essential, which is the revolution in the home, and the place of women in the family. Women should be made equals at home as well."

The director, who is Jewish, said the idea for the film came from a true story in Turkey.

Leila leads the battle in the village, confronting the village imam and quoting from the Koran in defense of her case.

She is defended by one of the film's most colorful characters -- Mother Rifle, whose words are "like bullets," played by Algerian actress Biyouna.

Turkish entry One Upon a Time in Anatolia follows a group of police officers and a doctor as they look for the corpse of a murder victim buried in the countryside.

Light on plot, it has nonetheless won over critics with its craftsmanship.

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comments

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 亚洲国产成人精品无码区在线秒播 | 女让张开腿让男人桶视频| 久久亚洲av无码精品色午夜| 极品少妇被啪到呻吟喷水| 亚洲欧美一区二区三区| 男女一边摸一边做爽视频| 可以看的毛片网站| 蜜桃臀av高潮无码| 国产小视频在线观看网站| 亚洲五月六月丁香激情| 国产精品资源在线| 99久久久国产精品免费牛牛四川| 好湿好紧好痛a级是免费视频| 中文字幕avdvd| 无码专区一va亚洲v专区在线 | 亚洲色欲www综合网| 第四色亚洲色图| 动漫人物差差差动漫网站| 美女视频黄A视频全免费| 国产一区在线观看免费| 草莓视频秋葵视频在线观看ios| 国产国产人免费人成免费视频| 国产小视频你懂的| 国产精品久久国产精品99| 2018国产大陆天天弄| 国产超碰人人模人人爽人人喊 | 国产极品美女高潮无套| 波多野结衣33| 国产精品国产三级国产a| 87午夜伦伦电影理论片| 国产高清小视频| 91精品一区二区三区在线观看| 在线观看无码AV网站永久免费| chinese激烈高潮HD| 天天射天天干天天操| a国产成人免费视频| 女人18毛片水真多国产| fabu14.xyz| 在线精品小视频| 999国产精品999久久久久久| 国精产品一品二品国精品69xx|