Egyptian Features From Emerging Filmmakers Lead the Arabic-Language Titles at the Venice Festival
variety.comAlissa Simon Film Critic A wide range of Egyptian films dominate the Arabic-language selection in Venice this year, including two feature debuts — from Khaled Mansour and Muhammed Hamdy — that represent new directions in Egyptian cinema.
Mansour is behind the endearing, audience-friendly “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo.” It follows a taciturn security guard whose best friend is the canine of the title, played by two different, but similar-looking, highly trained dogs.
Operating at cinema’s more experimental edge is “Perfumed With Mint,” which also screens in TIFF’s Wavelength section. Veteran cinematographer Hamdy (“The Square”) creates a metaphorical film representing a generation that is contaminated with doubts about what a waits them.
Provocative drama “Happy Holidays” marks Palestinian helmer Scandar Copti’s (“Ajami”) first solo outing while “Sudan, Remember Us” is a political documentary from the French-Tunisian-Moroccan journalist and documentarian Hind Meddeb.
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