8 summer silver-screen smashes to look out for 

Jennifer Lopez stars in ‘The Mother.’ (Supplied)  
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Updated 25 April 2023
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8 summer silver-screen smashes to look out for 

  • With ‘John Wick: Part 4’ and the Mario movie already out, blockbuster season has started. We run down the major movie releases heading your way over the next few months 

Get ready for an action-packed summer at the movies as big franchises return to the big screen and a new “Barbie” movie to boot. Here are eight films to catch at the theatres this summer:

‘The Matchmaker’  

Director: Abdulmohsen Aldhabaan 

Starring: Husam Alharthy, Reem Al-Habib, Nour Alkhadra 

The team at Saudi production house Telfaz11 are on a roll right now, turning out hit films and shows at an enviable rate. The latest is this psychological thriller, which releases April 27 on Netflix (part of the company’s eight-film deal with the streaming giant), and tells the story of an IT worker named Tarek (Alharthy) who becomes obsessed with the stunning new intern (played by Alkhadra) at his company. He heads to a desert resort (the film is mostly shot in AlUla) that promises its resident matchmaker will find men their perfect bride. “But when Tarek wanders outside the bounds of the resort,” the synopsis says, “he uncovers an ancient vengeance.”  

‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3’ 

Director: James Gunn 

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan 

The Marvel movie we’re most looking forward to this year will hit cinemas on May 4. The titular lovable rogues, led by Star Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) are getting accustomed to life on Knowhere (the severed head of an ancient celestial being that they purchased to use as their headquarters), but Quill is grieving the loss of his lover, Gamora — a situation complicated by the fact that a younger version of Gamora now exists in their timeline, but does not share her older version’s feelings about Quill. Meanwhile, Rocket the raccoon’s shady past is catching up with him, and the team must unite to save his life.  

‘The Mother’  

Director: Niki Caro 

Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, Gael Garcia Bernal 

New Zealand director Caro has the chops for both action (the 2020 live-action version of Disney’s “Mulan”) and arthouse (the award-winning 2002 movie “Whale Rider”), so we’re excited to see her take on Misha Green’s story about a highly skilled former assassin (Lopez) who is forced to come out of hiding in the wilds of Alaska and face her past in order to protect her daughter, whom she gave up years ago but has watched from afar ever since. Out May 12 on Netflix. 

‘The Little Mermaid’ 

Director: Rob Marshall 

Starring: Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Daveed Diggs, Awkwafina 

This intriguing live-action remake of Disney’s beloved 1989 animated classic is in good hands with Rob Marshall, who has some chops when it comes to film musicals, having helmed 2002’s “Chicago” and 2018’s “Mary Poppins Returns.” Its star, Bailey, also has form — along with her sister, her duo Chloe x Halle have earned five Grammy nominations in the last five years. The original animation has plenty of fans, both young and old, many of whom will be eager to see the new take. The story is straightforward. Princess Ariel (mermaid), falls in love with Prince Eric (human) after saving him from a shipwreck but is forbidden to leave her father’s undersea kingdom. So she strikes a deal with sea witch Ursula that grants her human legs to explore the human world. But the price for this bargain puts her father’s crown, and her own life, at risk. In cinemas May 25. 

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’  

Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson 

Voice cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae 

This film’s predecessor, 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” was one of the best films of that year — a tense and hilarious ride through alternate universes involving a number of different incarnations of Spider-Man, including, of course, Brooklyn teen Miles Morales. In this follow-up, Morales and his love interest Gwen Stacy (the Spider-Woman of her universe) take on The Spot — a new foe who can open interdimensional portals and who threatens the lives of all Spider-People. They team up the Spider-Society, led by Miguel O’Hara, to take The Spot on, but Miles and Miguel clash over the best way to do so. In cinemas June 1. 

‘Elemental’ 

Director: Peter Sohn 

Voice cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi 

Pixar’s latest is set in Element City, where the elements of nature (fire, water, land and air) live in their respective neighborhoods and are traditionally forbidden to mix. Ember Lumen, a feisty, quick-tempered fire element meets fun-loving water element Wade Ripple when he is called to deal with a plumbing accident at the family store owned by her bigoted father Bernie. Even though they cannot touch, Ember and Wade begin to fall in love, with Wade’s laidback nature helping to calm Ember down. In cinemas June 15. 

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’  

Director: James Mangold 

Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas 

With Steven Spielberg and George Lucas on board as executive producers, this fifth and final installment in the hugely successful franchise, set in 1969, finds an ageing Dr. Jones searching for the titular mystical and powerful object alongside his goddaughter Helena (Waller-Bridge). Jones is disappointed to discover that former Nazis are now working with the US government to take on the Soviet Union in the space race. He’s particularly concerned about the sinister Jurgen Voller (Mikkelsen). In cinemas June 29.

‘Barbie’  

Director: Greta Gerwig 

Starring: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu 

The fact that two great filmmakers — Gerwig (“Lady Bird”) and Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story” and “Francis Ha”) — co-wrote this film, and that Gerwig herself directed it, hopefully means that what could have been (and was surely conceived as) a cynical marketing scheme for Mattel’s iconic doll will hopefully have plenty of heart. Other reasons to be hopeful include the two leads —two of Hollywood’s brightest young stars, Robbie and Gosling, as Barbie and Ken. In cinemas July 20. 


‘An architecture of connection’ — inside the Saudi pavilion at Venice

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‘An architecture of connection’ — inside the Saudi pavilion at Venice

  • Sara Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi discuss their work for this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale 

VENICE: “The embroidery that you see is what remains of the vernacular fabric in central Riyadh,” says Sara Alissa, one half of Syn Architects, a small, research-focused practice founded by Alissa and Nojoud Alsudairi in 2019. “What’s interesting is, when people enter and they understand what is embroidered, they are either taken aback by how much remains, or how little.” 

Alissa is sitting on a long sculptural table occupying the central axis of the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia. It’s the second day of previews at the Venice Architecture Biennale, and all eyes are on “The Um Slaim School: An Architecture of Connection.” Running until Nov. 23 and commissioned by the Ministry of Culture’s Architecture and Design Commission, the exhibition is a moment of truth for Alissa and Alsudairi, who have dedicated their careers to ecologically sensitive architectural design. 

Caption

Conceived as a living archive and a hub for communal gathering, the pavilion showcases the work of the Um Slaim Collective — a research, exhibition, and workshop space founded by Syn Architects in 2021. Dedicated to studying the displacement of Najdi architecture in central Riyadh, the collective — or lab — is a physical manifestation of the practice’s research, drawing on local architectural theories, creative practices, and environmental histories to examine the impact of rapid urban expansion on central Riyadh. It is, says Alsudairi, who could not make it to Venice, a grassroots attempt to collect history, data, and research in order to rethink both urban spaces and neighborhood communities.  

In essence, the pavilion is an evolution of the duo’s work and acts as a launchpad for The Um Slaim School — a propositional pedagogical platform that builds on the work of both Syn Architects and the Um Slaim Collective. As such, it is a re-evaluation of the role of architects within a city like Riyadh and introduces a new model for architectural education in Saudi Arabia, one that merges historical insight with contemporary practice to create shared spaces for learning, making, and cultural exchange. 

 The National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia at the Venice Architecture Biennale. (Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Commission)

“It’s a more refined lab than we have in Riyadh,” says Alissa of the pavilion, which has been curated by Beatrice Leanza with assistance from the Saudi interdisciplinary artist and curator Sara Almutlaq. “We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we wanted to put forth something in Venice that we could benefit from after and not something that gets discarded right after the exhibition closes. We also wanted to create an experience and a feeling that people can leave with.”  

Alissa is sitting in a ‘building within a building.’ Located in the Arsenale — one of the biennale’s two main venues — the pavilion’s exhibition features four rows of scaffolding wrapped in layered textiles. These textiles, embroidered with maps featuring the nine districts of central Riyadh and various drawings, are interspersed with film, writing, and photography, all of which explore the stories and relationships woven into the architectural fabric of Riyadh. The exhibition includes an immersive sound installation created by Mohammed Alhamdan, which layers urban recordings of Riyadh, the city’s construction, and traditional builders’ chants.  

Um Slaim Neighborhood, in Riyadh in 2021. (Courtesy Syn Architects)

Alhamdan’s installation is one of three new commissions integrated into the exhibition. Set into one of the scaffolding walls is Saudi artist Maha Malluh’s “Tamwenat Addirah,” which explores the identity of the Um Slaim neighborhood through collected market items. Elsewhere, the photography of Laurian Ghinițoiu documents the ritualized rhythms of daily life. Alongside these, the photography of Mansour Alsofi captures modernist and postmodernist buildings in the city, while historical photographs and archival books chart its urban and architectural development. All of the artists and photographers have previously collaborated with Syn Architects.  

Ephemeral in nature, the space highlights some of the projects and interventions carried out by Syn Architects over the past five years, including the Shamalat Cultural Centre, an old mud building on the edge of Diriyah, which was converted into a cultural hub by Malluh and renovated by the architects in 2022. For their reimagining of the traditional mud house through restoration and addition, Alissa and Alsudairi were recently awarded the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture. 

(Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Commission, the Commissioner for the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia)

“When Nojoud and I started our practice, we felt a responsibility,” says Alissa. “We’re young Saudi architects working in the city and we wanted to create, or help create, this contemporary architectural language within the country. We felt the need to really explore our historical built fabric, but also the values embedded within it. We are advocating for restoration in a physical sense, but also in an intangible sense, where we restore the successful values associated with Najdi architecture.” 

The duo’s work inhabits the metaphorical space between the building and the scaffold, says Alsudairi, and seeks to challenge both neglect and over-romanticization — reviving vernacular structures not as relics or ruins, but as functional, living elements within the urban fabric. It also examines the ways in which cultural preservation and contemporary design can coexist. In doing so, their goal is to restore knowledge, to preserve, and ultimately to share what they have learned.  

(Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Commission, the Commissioner for the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia)

“We didn’t want to depart from the core work we’ve been doing with the Um Slaim Collective, so we chose to build on that,” explains Alsudairi. “We saw it as a valuable opportunity to expand the collective’s knowledge-sharing focus and move toward something more permanent. Right now, the school is a propositional project, but imagine the value of creating a school that is truly site-specific, in the sense that it doesn’t import knowledge, but grows from its own context.” 

It has been an overwhelming few months for the young studio, which has been catapulted into the spotlight since the announcement of the Saudi pavilion in early February.   

“Before we came to Venice, I was telling my daughter I’d be away for the biennale,” says Alissa. “She’s seven, she’s aware, and she kind of understands what we’re doing. And she was saying, ‘Oh, I hope you win in Venice.’ I’m like, ‘It’s not about winning.’ And then she sends me a message, saying, ‘I don’t care if you win. I’m just happy that you’re doing what you’re doing.’ It was so sweet.  

(Courtesy of the Architecture and Design Commission, the Commissioner for the National Pavilion of Saudi Arabia)

“Sometimes we feel very overwhelmed and unsure if we even want to continue because of how difficult things are. But then we have these moments — whether from our children, from people around us, or from each other. I think it’s something we rarely say out loud, but having a partner to go through it all with is really key.” 

Running alongside the exhibition is a complementary program of laboratorial and public sessions led by Leanza and supported by the Bahraini architect, researcher, and photographer Maryam AlNoaimi. It includes lectures, workshops, performances, screenings, readings, and walks that seek to foster dialogue on how architecture influences education and community-based practice. 

“I would be lying if I said we have an exact plan of where we’re going, because we didn’t have this in our plan,” says Alissa. “We definitely had an aspiration to do the Biennale, but never for this kind of duration. As long as we keep learning along the way, I think the objective is to plant the seed with this propositional school and see where it takes us.” 


Japan: A bucket-list destination worth the hype 

Updated 38 min 21 sec ago
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Japan: A bucket-list destination worth the hype 

  • Our trip to Tokyo and Kyoto proved family-friendly. We will be back 

DUBAI: A bucket-list destination for many, Japan doesn’t disappoint if you’re looking for that hard-to-find mix of bright lights, big cities, fascinating history and glorious nature. As first-time visitors, we opted for the tourist-heavy double whammy of Tokyo and Kyoto on our recent (last-minute) week-long visit during cherry blossom season.  

A wonderful surprise was just how welcoming Japan is for those travelling with young children. With our three- and four-year-old in tow, we visited sites including the beautiful Meiji Jingu Shrine, the extremely popular Sensoji Temple and the buzzing Shibuya Scramble — the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing.  

(A great hack for your must-do timelapse video at the latter? Visit MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 and head to the Dream Capsule store on the 5th floor for a quiet viewing window, which you can follow with a strangely addictive gacha gaming session, fun for all ages.) 

Tokyo's famed Shibuya Scramble at night. (Getty Images)

While it’s easy enough to list the aforementioned sites in a single sentence, it should be stressed that Tokyo is enormous, so organizing your itinerary according to neighborhoods is advisable. My highlights included shopping at LOFT (multiple locations across the city) for beauty products and adorably quirky homeware, and — of course — the ‘TikTok-famous’ 3D cat at the hectic Shinjuku crossing, solely due to the amazement on my kids’ faces. 

Another top tip for travelling in Japan is to ask about the luggage-delivery service before you head to your next destination, which in our case was Kyoto. Your bags will be waiting for you in your next hotel room within 24 hours of dropping them off at the counter. 

With that sorted, we hopped on the bullet train blissfully unencumbered — well, besides the kids — and sped off to Kyoto, home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years, the city is an incredible maze of temples, shrines and zen gardens. 

Nuunu Kyoto sells original works by Japanese artists. (Instagram)

Our first stop, though, was rather less storied: The Takashimaya Shopping Center is home to Nuunu Kyoto, an art department store selling original work by Japanese artists. The sketches and posters are laid out in record-store format and you can happily pass hours here picking out the perfect  affordable souvenir. 

When it comes to historical sites, this city is bursting at the seams. The stunning views from Kiyomizu-dera Temple’s cantilevered viewing platform were a personal favorite. Although we chose not to take a guided tour, I will say that a tad more info on Kyoto’s various sites would be welcome in the form of billboards or QR codes. 

The peaceful Kodai-ji Temple boasts a small bamboo forest for those unwilling to brave the crowds at Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, and we wrapped up our afternoon by visiting the Nanzen-ji Temple complex, at the base of the forested Higashiyama mountains. The expansive complex, which dates back to the 13th century, includes Tenjuan sub-temple with its serene gardens, stepping stones and koi pond full of inquisitive fish. 

Although it seems ludicrous to visit Kyoto without exploring the iconic red torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, braving the uphill slope with two prams was something we couldn’t face — but we will return. That was a familiar phrase while we were in Japan, which goes to show what an enjoyable time we had. 

The only warning I have — for couples traveling with children, at least — is to be mindful that restaurants tend to specialize. While this means most eateries are masters of their chosen fare, it also makes it hard to sample great sushi if your young ones are not of sushi-eating age.  

In our case, this meant our four-year-old developed a worryingly expensive penchant for wagyu steak, while our youngest existed on dry noodles and convenience store snacks (although, I have to say, even high-end restaurants were fantastic with the kids, welcoming them in no matter how late it was). 

Overall, Japan made for an ideal destination for a family vacation. Don’t let those social-media gripes about overcrowding put you off. Even in its busiest cities at one of its busiest times of year, Japan is one of the most welcoming places on Earth. 


FZN and Tresind Studio become first restaurants in Dubai to receive 3 Michelin stars

Updated 22 May 2025
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FZN and Tresind Studio become first restaurants in Dubai to receive 3 Michelin stars

  • They received the coveted classification at the city’s 4th annual Michelin Guide Awards ceremony on Thursday
  • 2 venues achieve their first Michelin star: Thai-inspired Manao and Indian restaurant Jamavar; Dubai-born Abhiraj Khatwani of Manao receives Young Chef Award

DUBAI: In a first for Dubai, the Michelin Guide has awarded its highest rating of three stars to not one but two of the city’s restaurants.

European-inspired FZN by Bjorn Frantzen and Indian-South African venue Tresind Studio received the coveted classification at the fourth annual Michelin Guide Awards ceremony on Thursday at the Address Sky View Hotel.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by FZN Dubai (@restaurantfzn)

Accepting the award, Indian chef Himanshu Saini, who runs Tresind Studio, said: “Thank you everyone. It is a great honor and pleasure. This has been a marathon for many years. Today, I feel honored to be able to receive the distinctive award.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by FZN Dubai (@restaurantfzn)

A representative of FZN said: “Thank you so much … wow. What a moment, what an achievement. I am speechless but, again, we are representing a strong and talented team that relocated here for the purpose of representing FZN in Dubai and going all in.”

Three restaurants retained their two-star status: Il Ristorante — Niko Romito; Row on 45; and Stay by Yannick Alleno.

Two venues received their first Michelin star: the Thai-inspired Manao, which opened only a few months ago, and Indian restaurant Jamavar.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @manao_dubai

They join 12 other establishments that retained their one-star rating: 11 Woodfire; Al-Muntaha; Avatara; Dinner by Heston Blumenthal; Hakkasan; Hoseki; La Dame de Pic Dubai; Moonrise; Orfali Bros; Ossiano; Smoked Room; and Tasca by Jose Avillez.

Manao’s Mohammed Orfali, who accepted the award alongside his team, said: “It means a lot. We opened five months ago. It is a different age for the food scene in the city. Now, we take on more responsibility.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @manao_dubai

Michelin also added five new restaurants to its Bib Gourmand list: Duo Gastrobar — Creek Harbour; Harummanis; Hawkerboi; Khadak; and Surfret Maryam. The Bib Gourmand section, introduced by Michelin in 1997, shines the spotlight on restaurants offering authentic and memorable culinary experiences at moderate prices, honoring quality and value.

The five new additions join 17 existing venues on the list: 21 Grams; 3Fils; Aamara; Al-Khayma Heritage Restaurant; Bait Maryam’ Berenjak; Duo Gastrobar — Dubai Hills; Goldfish’ Hoe Lee Kow; Indya by Vineet; Kinoya; Konjiki Hototogisu; Reif Japanese Kushiyaki — Dar Wasl; Reif Japanese Kushiyaki — Dubai Hills; Revelry; Shabestan; and Teible.

Three restaurants — Boca, Lowe and Teible — retained their Michelin Green Star awards, in recognition of their commitment to sustainable practices.

In the special awards categories, chef Sin Keun Choi of Ronin was honored with the Opening of the Year Award; chef Shiv Menon of Boca received the Sommelier Award; and the Service Award went to Mohammed Galal of Al-Khayma Heritage Restaurant.

The Young Chef Award went to 30-year-old, Dubai-born Abhiraj Khatwani of Manao, who said: “It does mean a lot. It is not just me, its (an award for) the whole team. Thank you so much for the recognition. We are just new, so its about retaining and sustaining.”


Kneecap describes terror offence charge as ‘political policing’

Updated 22 May 2025
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Kneecap describes terror offence charge as ‘political policing’

DUBAI: Northern Irish rap group Kneecap, who recently made headlines for their support for Palestine at California’s Coachella music festival, have described a terror offence charge against one of their members as “political policing.” 

“14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us,” the group said in a statement on X on Thursday. “This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story, genocide is.”

On Wednesday, group member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, was charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London in November 2024. The rapper performs under the stage name Mo Chara and he is scheduled to appear at Westminster magistrates court on June 18 in London. 

The rapper is accused of displaying the flag at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on Nov. 21, 2024, “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation,” London’s Metropolitan police said. 

The police force’s counter-terrorism command was made aware on April 22 of an online video from the event and then carried out an investigation. After that, the Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charge. 

“A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn’t have a jury. What’s the objective? To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out,” the band said in a statement this week.


MDLBEAST Brings Guns N’ Roses to Saudi Arabia: A new era for rock music in the Kingdom 

Updated 22 May 2025
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MDLBEAST Brings Guns N’ Roses to Saudi Arabia: A new era for rock music in the Kingdom 

RIYADH: MDLBEAST has made headlines by bringing renowned heavy metal and rock bands to Saudi Arabia, including Metallica, Linkin Park and Muse.

This time, they are hosting a May 23 concert featuring Guns N’ Roses, the iconic American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1985. This collaboration is part of the band’s 2025 global tour, which includes stops in the Middle East.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MDLBEAST (@mdlbeast)

Rayan Al-Rasheed, director of operations and artist booking at MDLBEAST, emphasized the significance of the event: “Saudi Arabia has become a key destination for global music acts. By hosting legendary artists like Guns N’ Roses, we aim to elevate the Kingdom’s presence in the global music scene.”

The introduction of rock music to the Saudi music landscape acknowledges a genre that has long had a strong presence in the country, according to the executive.

“The popularity of bands like Metallica and Linkin Park shows that rock has deep roots here,” Al-Rasheed said.

Local metal brands, such as Heavy Arabia, further validate this influence by showcasing the vibrant regional rock scene.

The anticipation surrounding the Guns N’ Roses concert at Kingdom Arena, which holds about 27,000 people, is immense. “This concert is set to be one of the biggest events we’ve powered to date,” Al-Rasheed said.

Previous events, including concerts at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix featuring artists such as Jennifer Lopez, have drawn large crowds, highlighting the strong fanbase in the Kingdom.

Success for these events is measured not just by ticket sales but by their cultural impact. “Local, regional, and global media coverage reflects the significance of such events,” Al-Rasheed said.

The trend of cultural tourism, with attendees traveling from across Saudi Arabia and beyond, underscores the importance of these concerts.

Live music plays a crucial role in fostering community and cultural exchange. “It brings people together from diverse backgrounds, creating collective experiences that transcend language and borders,” Al-Rasheed said.