Film review: ‘My Driver & I’

Film review: ‘My Driver & I’
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Updated 24 April 2025
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Film review: ‘My Driver & I’

Film review: ‘My Driver & I’

The winner of the Best Feature Film at the 11th Saudi Film Festival, which concluded earlier this month, “My Driver & I” (Salma and Gamar), directed by Saudi Arabia’s own Ahd Kamel, is a poignant coming-of-age story set in 1980s and 1990s Jeddah.

The film follows Salma, raised as an only child in a villa. Her globe-trotting father (played by legendary Saudi hip-hop artist Qusai “Don Legend” Kheder) indulges her with stacks of music cassette tapes from his international travels. Salma’s Palestinian mother (Rana Alamuddin) initially appears overly-strict but a soft undercurrent eventually reveals itself.

The heart of the film lies in Salma’s bond with Gamar (Mustafa Shahata), a newly hired Sudanese driver and father to a one-year-old child back in Sudan. Though tasked with taking Salma to school, Gamar becomes her protector, confidant and quiet guide through life.

Salma is portrayed as a very young girl by Tarah Al-Hakeem and later, as a teenager, by Roula Dakheelallah.

Gamar, too, has a relationship with cassette tapes — but for a very different reason. His wife back home cannot read, so he sends her audio recordings filled with updates and declarations of love for her and their child. Despite the distance and longing, he makes the difficult decision to stay in Jeddah until Salma graduates high school, sacrificing his own time with his family in the process.

One might be reminded of the classic 1989 American film “Driving Miss Daisy,” which followed the decades-long relationship between an elderly white Southern woman and her Black driver in mid-20th-century Atlanta. But while parallels can be drawn in terms of companionship and class, “My Driver & I” is a distinctly Saudi story — rooted in a different era, place and dynamic.

Kamel has said in interviews that the film is inspired by her own relationship with her childhood driver.

As Salma matures, the innocence of her world begins to fray. Still in high school, a shy flirtation with a teen boy (played by pop star Mishaal Tamer) causes tension between her and Gamar.

While some parts of the story may seem stretched or lengthy, it feels like a road — meandering, unfolding in its own time.

Kamel is no stranger to the screen. Best known for her acting role in the BAFTA-nominated “Wadjda” (2012), Saudi Arabia’s first feature film, “My Driver & I” marks her directorial debut.

While “Wadjda” centered on a girl longing to ride a bicycle, this film replaces the bike with a car — and, at one point, even a jet ski. In both films, the story is rooted in a Saudi girl’s perspective.

Raised in Jeddah, Kamel moved to New York City for higher education; she studied law at Columbia University and then animation and communication at Parsons, and obtained a directing degree from New York Film Academy. It was while in the US that she learned of her childhood driver’s passing and began writing “My Driver & I” as a homage — to him, and to the city they shared.

Gamar, which translates to “moon,” can be seen as reflecting Salma’s ball of sunshine.

He does not just drive her from place to place, he shows her the road — both literal and emotional. And she provides the soundtrack.


Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast spotted in Bahrain 

Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast spotted in Bahrain 
Updated 29 May 2025
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Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast spotted in Bahrain 

Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ cast spotted in Bahrain 
  • Production underway in Bahrain, set for release December 2026

DUBAI: Members of the star-studded “Avengers: Doomsday” cast were recently spotted in Bahrain, where production for the upcoming Marvel film is believed to be underway.

This week, Address Beach Resort held a dinner event attended by several cast members. Among the guests were director Joe Russo and actors Anthony Mackie, Simu Liu, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Hannah John-Kamen, Danny Ramirez, and Alex Livinalli.

“This past weekend, Address Beach Resort Bahrain had the marvellous honour of hosting some of Hollywood’s most iconic stars,” the resort posted on Instagram.

Fans also spotted the cast dining at Sumosan, a Japanese restaurant located within the hotel.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, “Avengers: Doomsday” is set for release on Dec. 18, 2026.
 


Kneecap dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival amid police safety concerns

Kneecap dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival amid police safety concerns
Updated 29 May 2025
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Kneecap dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival amid police safety concerns

Kneecap dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT Festival amid police safety concerns

DUBAI: Northern Irish rap group Kneecap has been pulled from the lineup of Scotland’s TRNSMT music festival, with organizers citing police concerns over safety as the reason for the last-minute removal.

The politically outspoken trio, known for fusing Irish republicanism with rap and for their recent pro-Palestinian stance at California’s Coachella, were scheduled to perform on July 11. But festival organizers announced on Wednesday that they would no longer appear, following discussions with Police Scotland.

Police Scotland clarified that while concerns were raised, booking decisions were made independently by the festival: “Any decision in relation to the line-up is a matter for the organisers. Police Scotland was not consulted prior to the acts being booked.”

In a statement on X, Kneecap addressed fans: “To the thousands of people who bought tickets, flights and hotels to see us play, we are sorry … it is out of our hands.” They added, “Glasgow has always been a huge city for us. We’ve played there many, many times, with no issues — ever. Make of that what you will.”

The band will instead perform at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on July 8.

The decision comes as group member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, faces a terrorism charge in the UK for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November 2024. He is due to appear in court on June 18. Kneecap has called the charge “political policing,” linking it to efforts to silence dissent.

“This is a carnival of distraction,” the group said. “We are not the story, genocide is.”


Nintendo expands in Saudi Arabia with online store, upcoming launch of Switch 2

Nintendo expands in Saudi Arabia with online store, upcoming launch of Switch 2
Updated 28 May 2025
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Nintendo expands in Saudi Arabia with online store, upcoming launch of Switch 2

Nintendo expands in Saudi Arabia with online store, upcoming launch of Switch 2

RIYADH: Nintendo has announced the launch of its Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online services in Saudi Arabia, marking a major step in the company’s regional expansion as it prepares to roll out the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5.

Nintendo also launched its official online store in the Kingdom in April.

The Nintendo Saudi Online Store offers a full range of products including the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, accessories, games and amiibo figurines.

In a press release, Nintendo said the move was part of a broader push to strengthen its presence in new markets and improve local accessibility to its ecosystem.

While the company has not yet revealed the exact launch date for the eShop and online subscription services in Saudi Arabia, it confirmed that “details will be announced at a later time.”

Coinciding with the Saudi store launch, Nintendo also revealed full details of the Nintendo Switch 2, which is being positioned as the next evolution in hybrid gaming.

The new console will feature upgraded performance and a more immersive experience through a 7.9-inch (20-centimeter) full high-definition screen, redesigned magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers with mouse-like capabilities, 256 gigabytes of internal storage and spatial 3D audio.

“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go, based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, in the press release.

“With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”

A key new feature is GameChat, a built-in system allowing voice and video communication for up to 12 players during gameplay. Players will be able to use a built-in microphone or an optional USB-C camera to chat, share screens or see each other in real time.

GameChat will be available to all Nintendo Switch 2 users until March 31 next year, after which it will require a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Nintendo Switch 2 will also include GameShare, enabling users to share compatible titles with friends and family even if they do not own the games themselves, as long as they are part of the same Nintendo Account family group.

At launch, the system will debut with several major titles.

These include Mario Kart World with its new Knockout Tour mode, the exclusive 3D platformer Donkey Kong Bananza, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, and Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV.

With the online store now live and digital services on the way, Saudi Arabia is set to become a key market for Nintendo as it rolls out its next-generation console under the global theme: “All Together, Anytime, Anywhere.”


Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington’ — a satirical thriller in small town America

Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington’ — a satirical thriller in small town America
Updated 28 May 2025
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Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington’ — a satirical thriller in small town America

Review: Star-filled ‘Eddington’ — a satirical thriller in small town America

CANNES: The memory of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingers, the deaths and the economic destruction it caused still play on the mind. Ari Aster’s “Eddington,” which just played at the Cannes Film Festival in France, is a brutal look at what the virus did to humanity, the kind of misinformation we were fed and the losses, monetary and emotional, we all suffered.

“Eddington” is a fictional town in the US state of New Mexico and the movie opens as lockdown begins.

In the Cannes title, the mayor of Eddington, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), and Sheriff Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) are at loggerheads. Their bone of contention is the medical mask — Cross refuses to wear one thus setting a bad example, encouraging people to defy the rule.  Cross also resents Garcia's support for the construction of a giant online server farm and decides to run against Garcia as an anti-lockdown candidate in the upcoming mayoral election.

This forms the main plot, but interestingly it is the sub-plots that add pep and zing to the film. Cross's wife Louise (Emma Stone) suffers from hysteria and depression while Garcia's problematic teen son Eric (Matt Gomez Hidaka) is in love with Sarah (Amelia Hoeferie), who bills herself a warrior for social justice.

Aster manages to grip us with all these diversions and distractions in what could have otherwise been a rather dull narrative. The satire on the sidelines is hilarious, and despite a serious plot that treats the town as a microcosm of America’s problems — from police brutality to racism —   the writer-director manages to keep the audience engaged until the finish line.

The film could have done with tighter editing, though, and it isn’t till the halfway mark that the plot begins to speed up with a segway into a farcical crime thriller.


Paul Mescal spotlights Palestinian doc ‘No Other Land’

Paul Mescal spotlights Palestinian doc ‘No Other Land’
Updated 28 May 2025
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Paul Mescal spotlights Palestinian doc ‘No Other Land’

Paul Mescal spotlights Palestinian doc ‘No Other Land’

DUBAI: While promoting his latest film, “The History of Sound,” at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, Irish actor Paul Mescal took a moment to spotlight the Palestinian documentary “No Other Land.”

In a heartfelt statement, Mescal shared his experience watching the film in a packed Brooklyn theater, expressing profound upset over its limited distribution. He emphasized the importance of amplifying Palestinian voices and stories, highlighting the film's portrayal of the destruction of Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank.

“I remember sitting there in a packed-out theater in Brooklyn and just being so profoundly upset that the film hadn’t, at that point, I still don’t know if it has received distribution there. Having a cultural moment like that with a film like that, which is so wildly upsetting to see in a room. The story that I feel like needed to be told the most was being censored, it felt like almost. And the feeling in the room was one of great fear and sadness and it felt like the film was bigger than the four walls in which we were watching it,” he said.

“No Other Land,” the story of Palestinian activists fighting to protect their communities from demolition by the Israeli military, won the Oscar for best documentary earlier this year.

The film’s co-directors, Palestinian activist Basel Adra and Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham used their speeches to call for an end to the “ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

The film follows activist Adra as he risks arrest to document the destruction of his hometown, which Israeli soldiers are tearing down to use as a military training zone.