Steven Spielberg addresses Gaza, decries anti-semitism
Steven Spielberg addresses Gaza, decries anti-semitism/node/2482996/lifestyle
Steven Spielberg addresses Gaza, decries anti-semitism
Veteran US filmmaker Steven Spielberg addressed the Israel-Gaza conflict and anti-semitism while accepting an honor from the University of Southern California. (AFP)
Steven Spielberg addresses Gaza, decries anti-semitism
Updated 26 March 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Veteran US filmmaker Steven Spielberg addressed the Israel-Gaza conflict and anti-semitism while accepting an honor from the University of Southern California.
The Oscar-winning director spoke at an event where he was recognized for his work with the USC Shoah Foundation, an organization he founded in 1994 to record and preserve interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Holocaust.
Spielberg said in listening to the accounts of survivors, “the echoes of history are unmistakable in our current climate.”
Spielberg said radical views create “a dangerous environment” and lead to “a society that no longer celebrates differences.”
“We see every day how the machinery of extremism is being used on college campuses, where now fully 50 per cent of students say they have experienced some discrimination because they are Jewish. This is also happening alongside anti Muslim, Arab and Sikh discrimination,” he continued.
Spielberg said he was “increasingly alarmed” that Jews might have to “once again fight for the very right to be Jewish.”
“We can rage against the heinous acts committed by the terrorist of October 7 and also decry the killing of innocent women and children in Gaza. This makes us a unique force for good in the world and is why we are here today to celebrate the work of the Shoah Foundation, which is more crucial now than it even was in 1994,” he added.
Book Review: ‘I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas’ by Alessandra Olanow
The author’s storytelling talent and introspective reflections on her personal journey make this book an excellent option for people searching for inspiration and a deeper understanding of life and human experience
Updated 12 sec ago
Haifa Alshammari
“I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas” is a captivating book by New York-based author Alessandra Olanow. Her book was published in 2020 and talks about a self-discovery journey and resilience.
Through her beautifully crafted stories and storytelling, she takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and invites them to learn through the unexpected experiences that shape their lives.
Through the pages of this book, Olanow shares her personal experiences of how she managed to overcome life’s unpredictable circumstances. With her honesty and interesting narrative, she speaks about the lessons learned on her life journey. From her professional experiences to her personal relationships, Olanow’s story exudes authenticity and reminds the reader that life rarely follows a straight path, which makes life realistic and beautiful at the same time.
One of the strengths of Olanow’s book is her ability to describe the depth of emotions and how she talks about her personal struggles during some of the hardest moments in her life.
She expresses her opinions and reflections on life’s challenges by encouraging the readers to reflect as well on their own journeys, motivating them to overcome their obstacles too.
Moreover, regardless of the ups and downs she encountered, she explained how she maintained a sense of hope and resilience.
Additionally, the book is enriched with evocative descriptions of the places the author has lived and traveled to. Whether she was exploring the busy streets in one city or immersing herself in the serenity of nature, her ability to paint a colorful picture through her words takes readers to these places, allowing them to travel with her in thoughts.
Overall, this book is interesting and inspiring at the same time. It reminds readers of the beauty and resilience of accepting life’s unexpected turns and celebrating the beautiful moments too.
The author’s storytelling talent and introspective reflections on her personal journey make this book an excellent option for people searching for inspiration and a deeper understanding of life and human experience.
Saudi Film Festival ends with honors for best production, music, acting
Kingdom’s acclaimed wildlife documentary ‘Horizon’ and film ‘Hajjan’ win top awards
Updated 10 May 2024
Jasmine Bager
DHAHRAN: The red carpet was rolled out on the final night of the eight-day 10th Saudi Film Festival on Thursday with awards handed out for best production, music and acting.
The event, held at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, had included masterclasses, workshops, book signings and networking opportunities.
The event was held at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture. (Supplied)
The closing ceremony was a glamorous event, as presenters handed out the Golden Palm awards on stage.
Of the 76 films that were screened, 53 titles competed for 36 awards.
The closing ceremony was a glamorous event. (Supplied)
The acclaimed 2024 wildlife documentary “Horizon” won in its category. It was produced by the Konoz Initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Media’s Center for Government Communication and the National Center for Wildlife.
Ithra’s own award-winning “Hajjan,” about a young camel rider, won for best music, best actor for the young star Omar Alatawi, and best actress for Tulin Essam. The film also won the Jury Golden Palm.
Of the 76 films that were screened, 53 titles competed for 36 awards. (Supplied)
One of the big winners on the night was the documentary shown at the opening ceremony of the festival on May 2, “Underground,” about the music scene in Saudi Arabia.
The list of winners and the recorded stream are available on the Ithra website.
Highlights from the Middle East Institute’s ‘Louder Than Hearts’ in Washington DC
Updated 10 May 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: The Middle East Institute in Washington DC is hosting works by female photographers from the Arab world.
Tasneem Al-Sultan
‘Diversity Within Saudi Weddings’
The acclaimed Lebanon-born Palestinian-American photographer Rania Matar has curated “Louder Than Hearts,” an exhibition of work by 10 female photographers, including herself, from the Arab world and Iran that runs at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC until October 4. Saudi Arabia is represented by Riyadh-based “visual storyteller and photographer” Tasneem Al-Sultan, specifically her “Saudi Tales of Love” series, which, the MEI says, is “informed by her personal journey through marriage and divorce.”
In wedding images such as this one, Al-Sultan “depicts the constructs and expectations of marriage, including the elaborate ceremonies, as well as the various societal constraints the Saudi women she photographed faced and triumphed over” and “delves into the complexities of relationships and the interplay of tradition and individual choice.”
The series has garnered global recognition for Al-Sultan, featuring in Time’s “Lightbox” photo series and the international photography fair Paris Photo.
Rania Matar
‘Farah (In Her Burnt Car)’
Matar’s photography, the MEI states, “captures intimate moments that transcend borders and cultures and explores themes of personal and collective identity through photos of women in the US and the Middle East.”
The series to which this image belongs — “Where Do I Go? Fifty Years Later” — began after the devastating explosion in Beirut Port in August 2020, and the title alludes to the fact that 2025 will be the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Lebanon’s civil war. The wave of emigration that followed the 2020 explosion was “akin to that of 1984-85 when a wave of young people including herself left the war-stricken country. By photographing these women, Matar was relating to their experiences and their dilemma of immigration (decades) later.”
Rehaf Al-Batniji
‘Malak’
This image comes from Paris-based, Gaza-born photographer Al-Batniji’s series titled “(Shatt) The Beach & (Shatta) The Chili Pepper,” a project that explores “the social and cultural anthropology” of her hometown. Shatta is a major ingredient in Palestinian cuisine, and “emblematic of Gaza, where life’s challenges can sting like this fiery spice,” while shatt is “the serene beach where residents seek solace and escape their daily reality.”
Al-Batniji’s work, the MEI states, “offers an intimate portrayal of the territory, reflecting the struggles and intensity of life under siege, as well as the resilience and vibrancy of its communities with refreshing hopefulness. Al-Batniji rejects the brutal imagery of conflict and instead uses color as a tool of resistance.”
Carmen Yahchouchi
‘Victoria’
Mali-born Lebanese photographer Yahchouchi has work from three of her series in the exhibition, all of which “capture the enduring impact of the Lebanese Civil War on women, highlighting their pivotal roles in the middle of chaos and devastation,” the MEI’s promotional material states. “Her work offers glimpses into their resilience, strength and sacrifice as they navigated through tumultuous periods of history emerging as heroines within their communities and families and assuming new roles in the public sphere.” This piece is from her series “My Mother’s Gun,” and demonstrates Yahchouchi’s talent for photographing “the intimate spaces of human experience, inviting viewers into her subjects' unique worlds.”
Tanya Habjouqa
‘Inner Resistance’
The Jordanian photographer and journalist, who lives and works in East Jerusalem, “melds a mordant sense of irony with an unyielding examination of the repercussions of geopolitical conflicts on people’s lives,” according to the MEI. This image comes from her “Occupied Pleasures” series, which, the institute says, “presents a multidimensional portrayal of humanity’s ability to find joy amid adversity in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, utilizing a sharp sense of humor about the absurdities produced by a 47-year occupation.”
Film Review: ‘Mother’s Instinct,’ a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the end
Anne Hathaway plays "the perfect mother" in this 2024 psychological thriller in a remake of a French film, which itself was a novel adaptation
Updated 10 May 2024
Jasmine Bager
Anne Hathaway has played many roles over the course of her career: a surprise princess, an assistant to a fashion magazine editor, a recovering addict, Cat Woman. In “Mother’s Instinct,” she plays a mother — the perfect mother.
In this 2024 psychological thriller — a remake of a French film which itself was a novel adaptation — Hathaway is joined by Jessica Chastain. The two play best friends who are living the American dream.
They are next-door neighbors. Their husbands are the best of friends, as are their eight-year-old sons. They live in an affluent neighborhood in cookie-cutter 1960s’ suburban America. Everything seems idyllic.
The film begins with Celine’s (Hathaway) birthday. Alice (Chastain) and the women’s husbands throw a surprise backyard party. Celine receives a pearl necklace, a joint gift from their family and friends. It’s a wonderful celebration.
But the next day, there’s a tragic death.
One of the young boys falls from a balcony under suspicious circumstances. At the time, he was being supervised by the other mother.
The film forces us to ask: How can a mother live with herself after she entrusted her son’s life to her friend? Could anyone forgive themselves? Could they forgive their friend?
By mid-film, there are still two mothers — but now one is childless. The one whose son has survived feels guilt. The one who lost her boy feels fury. Both feel grief.
As the story unfolds there are more deaths and we begin to wonder: Did one mother deliberately harm the other’s son? Who is innocent here? Who is evil? Was it an accident or a deliberate act? And who will die next?
Events become more sinister. Nothing seems perfect anymore. Even the beautiful pearl necklace ends up broken on the floor, the tiny gems rolling around chaotically.
First-time director Benoit Delhomme does a good job of leading our eyes where he wants them to go. The cinematography is beautiful, while the styling and outfits are divine.
This film keeps you guessing until the end. And there is no happy ending; sometimes, the happy ending is that there is one at all.
DHAHRAN: Saudi filmmakers of the future were given a masterclass in the latest animation techniques as part of the Saudi Film Festival this week.
The animation workshops were led by experts from the US as part of a collaboration between the festival and the American Chamber of Commerce and US Consulate in Dhahran.
The animation workshops were led by experts from the US as part of a collaboration between the festival and the American Chamber of Commerce and US Consulate in Dhahran. (Supplied)
Todd Albert Nims, one of the pioneers in shaping the Saudi film industry over the past decade, told Arab News that with a population of 36 million, many under 35, Saudi Arabia is ripe with potential in the film sector.
Nims, an American who was born and raised in Dhahran, is now head of the AmCham Arts, Culture and Entertainment Committee, and has been involved in all aspects of Saudi-centered films, from acting to producing.
“I went to the first Saudi Film Festival in 2008 and worked with them on bringing the Saudi Film Festival into Ithra … I was there with them, and I’ve been here within this journey for the last 16 years,” he said.
Nims said that many Saudis grew up watching Disney films, and began their filmmaking efforts creating short content on YouTube.
He said there is huge potential for the Saudi market to grow, adding that he wanted to offer young filmmakers the opportunity to “gain expertise right in their backyard.”
Travis Blaise, who has over three decades of experience in animation, and has worked on Disney classics such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King,” was on hand to conduct a five-day workshop.
“I was brought on to bring something new and unique to this Saudi Film Festival, which was bringing storytelling, or visual storytelling, to script,” he told Arab News.
Together with fellow American William Winkler, Blaise dedicated each day to bringing the overall picture to life, sketching ideas, developing the story structure, and even discuss the backstory of characters.
The goal was for each student to develop their own 30-second script. The workshop began with 11 students, but the figure soon ballooned to 20.
“Every single student was Saudi; most of them were women from several universities, while a couple were already professionals working in the industry,” Blaise said.
“I love the excitement and passion that they (the Saudi students) share because I have shared that same passion for the last 34 years, and the fact that I can bring something of my own experience to someone who is passionate and open-minded and willing to learn about film really is exciting,” he said.
The experts told Arab News that they are committed to building connections between the US and Saudi film industries, recognizing its potential to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences both domestically and internationally.
“Through filmmaking, we aim to strengthen ties between the US and Saudi Arabia by fostering mutual understanding and creative collaboration,” Alison Dilworth, the US deputy chief of mission, told Arab News.
