NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Satyajit Ray

India | 1984 | 138 minutes

In Bengali with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  Both a romantic-triangle tale and a philosophical take on violence in times of revolution, The Home and the World (Ghare-Baire), set in early twentieth-century Bengal, concerns an aristocratic but progressive man who, in insisting on broadening his more traditional wife’s political horizons, persuades her to leave the seclusion of the women's quarters to meet one of his best friends to whom he is politically opposed. Tensions arise when she falls in love with his friend, reflecting growing political unrest outside the house. Satyajit Ray had wanted to adapt Rabindranath Tagore’s classic novel to the screen for decades. When he finally did in 1984, he fashioned a personal, exquisite film that stands as a testament to his lifelong love for the great writer and deftly juxtaposes and explores the early 20th century nationalist movement and the emancipation of women—a recurrent theme of Satyajit Ray’s work.

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Directed by Terence Davies

United Kingdom | 2011 | 98 minutes | In English

RATING: ( PG-13 ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis:  In The Deep Blue Sea, master chronicler of post-War England, Terence Davies directs Oscar winner Rachel Weisz in a deeply vulnerable performance as a woman whose overpowering love threatens her well-being and alienates the men in her life. Hester Collyer (Rachel Weisz) leads a privileged life in 1950s London as the beautiful wife of high court judge Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale) and a free spirit trapped in a passionless marriage. To the shock of those around her, she walks out on her marriage to move in with a troubled former Royal Air Force pilot, Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston), with whom she has fallen passionately in love. Set in post-war Britain, renowned film director Terence Davies’ beautiful adaptation of Terence Rattigan's classic play, The Deep Blue Sea is a study of forbidden love, suppressed desire and the fear of loneliness - but is at heart a deeply moving love story. Stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, what or whom should Hester choose?

NOTE: This is an online viewing through Aflamuna Online by Beirut DC and is completely FREE to watch until May 6, 2020 on the Aflamuna website.

 
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Directed by Joanna Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige

Lebanon, France | 2008 | 75 minutes

In Arabic, French with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  While in Beirut to attend a glamorous banquet, legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve (Potiche, Belle de Jour) insists on being taken to the southern regions of Lebanon in order to see first-hand the devastation caused by Israel's month-long bombing campaign there in the summer of 2006. Titled Je Veux Voir in French, I Want To See cleverly blurs the lines between documentary and fiction. Directors Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas (A Perfect Day) create a mesmerizing, thought-provoking travelogue in which they appear as filmmakers capturing Deneuve's road-trip on camera. After visiting the crumbling ruins of ancient villages and watching as the shattered remnants of cities and towns are slowly pushed into the sea, Deneuve is somewhat transformed when she arrives later that evening before the myriad photographers ardently capturing her image at the elegant evening gala.

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Fabio Mollo

Italy, France | 2013 | 90 minutes

In Italian with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis: Grazia lives with her father in a dilapidated coastal town around southern Italy, where she has to help out at his fish shop. She has no real prospects in life, but beneath her inscrutable expression she harbours a deep longing for her missing brother, Pietro. Grazia was 12 years old when she was told by her widower father that her beloved older brother Pietro had died, and has never spoken a word since. Now a tomboyish 18, after one of her regular arguments with her father, Grazia flees to the seaside and into the water, where she has an otherworldly experience and thinks she sees her brother. Thus begins her quest to discover another truth, not only about her lost sibling but also about herself. This poised and striking debut film by Italian director Fabio Mollo, who shot this film in the Reggio Calabria village where he grew up, features a remarkable central performance by the young Miriam Karlkvist and is drawn to exploring early teenagehood and the boundaries of life in the province while imbuing a family drama with tinges of magical realism.

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Curtis Harrington

United States | 1961 | 85 minutes | In English

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis: A lonely sailor on shore leave becomes fascinated by a woman who poses as a mermaid in a seaside amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. As their relationship blossoms, Johnny Drake (Dennis Hopper) realizes that the beautiful, mysterious Mora (Linda Lawson) is more than a sideshow illusionist. As his suspicions grow, Mora's doomed and sinister past is slowly revealed. She seems to be a descendent of the mythical sirens of the sea, and is under the mesmeric control of a mysterious woman (Marjorie Cameron) who beckons Mora to return to her home beneath the waves. Curtis Harrington's acclaimed fantasy-thriller Night Tide remains one of the most influential indie films of the 1960s that helped establish Dennis Hopper as one of cult cinemas's most eclectic leading men. Harrington blends this romantic mystery story with elements of film noir and the horror genre transforming it into a suspenseful narrative. The location photography by Vilis Lapenieks, the studio cinematography by Floyd Crosby (High Noon), and the jazzy, melodic score by David Raksin (Laura) all enrich the brooding atmosphere of the film. (Restored by the Academy Film Archive with funding provided by The Film Foundation)

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In Memory of Irrfan Khan (1967 - 2020)
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Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia

India | 2010 | 126 minutes

In Hindi with English Subtitles

RATING: ( PG-13 ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis: Paan Singh Tomar is an untold true story of a humble farmer, a loyal army man and an outstanding athlete who became one of India's most dreaded bandits. A small town lad who went on to win the steeplechase at the Indian National Games for 7 consecutive years & broke the national record, a feat that was unsurpassed for 10 years. His fame would develop a double edge when a series of life changing events forced him to protect his family against his own relatives, who stole his crops and destroyed his farmland. And so Paan Singh the runner became a rebel by giving up athletics, picking up the gun and becoming the scourge of the infamous Chambal valley in central India. Discover the true story of Paan Singh Tomar with a tour-de-force performance by Irrfan Khan, who trained vigorously for the role, in a film filled with deep emotions and incredible twists filmed in the army camp in Roorkee and the ravines of Chambal Valley. Paan Singh Tomar is a gritty, no holds barred action adventure set in the heart of India's gangland, Chambal.

NOTE: This is an online viewing through Aflamuna Online by Beirut DC and is completely FREE to watch until May 13, 2020 on the Aflamuna website.

 
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Directed by Mohamad Soueid

Lebanon | 2009 | 90 minutes

In Arabic with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  In "How Bitter Is My Sweet", six characters, two cities, many homelands, the bitter and the sweet of overcoming life’s hardships, are told by everyday people who dwell at the fringes of society and the informal economy. Fragmented and tender, this film is Soueid’s free-style poetic ode to the colloquial chroniclers of war, strife, exile, and place-making.

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Directed by Martin Brest

United States | 1988 | 126 minutes | In English

RATING: ( 18+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 18 and above

Synopsis:  In Robert De Niro’s first full-blown action comedy, he plays Jack Walsh, an irritable tough ex-cop turned bounty hunter tasked with retrieving Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas (Charles Grodin), a sensitive mob accountant who embezzled $15 million from his boss Jimmy Serano (Dennis Farina), gave it to charity and then jumped bail. Jack's in for a cool $100,000 if he can deliver The Duke from New York to L.A. on time. And alive. Sounds like just another Midnight Run (a piece of cake in bounty hunter slang), but it turns into a cross-country chase. The FBI is after The Duke to testify - the Mob is after him for revenge - and Walsh is after him to just shut up. If someone else doesn't do the job, the two unlikely partners may end up killing each other in this hilarious, action-filled blockbuster from producer-director Martin Brest. The unexpected pairing of De Niro and Grodin results in hilarious, magnetic, and genuine chemistry.

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Shyam Benegal

India | 1974 | 125 minutes

In Hindi with English Subtitles

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  In Shyam Benegal’s stunning first narrative feature, the ne’er-do-well son (Anant Nag) of an absentee landlord is dispatched to oversee his father’s land in Andhra Pradesh. He considers himself a progressive thinker, allowing his beguiling housekeeper Laxmi (Shabana Azmi) to prepare his food, though she is of a lesser caste. With the disgrace of her husband (Sadhu Meher), a deaf, unemployed potter, Laxmi, vulnerable and desperate, begins an affair with her employer. Once tested, the landlord's enlightened attitudes soon fall to privilege and arrogance. Benegal's first female heroine pays dearly for her transgression, but she is resolute and fiery nonetheless. When Ankur was released, critics were flabbergasted by the consummate skill demonstrated in a first film (although Benegal was what one writer called “a veteran novitiate,” having already made six hundred commercials for Indian television). Equally astonishing was the unvarnished, realistic, and subtly enraged story about a spineless landlord's relationship with his trusting servant. Set amidst a complex mesh of feudal power structures and gender oppression, Shyam Benegal’s directorial debut Ankur is a powerful film about the caste system and agency of women. It also marks the debut of the powerhouse actress of Indian parallel cinema, Shabana Azmi.

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Presented in collaboration with Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the UAE, Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development (MCKD), twofour54 Creative Lab

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Directed by Kim Yong-hwa

South Korea | 2017 | 140 minutes

In Korean with English Subtitles

RATING: ( PG-13 ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis:  When firefighter Kim Ja-hong dies unexpectedly in the line of duty, he’s greeted by three guardians who are his escorts through the afterlife. He is informed that because he was a paragon of virtue in life, he’s eligible for reincarnation, as long as he’s acquitted in seven trials on seven levels of hell proving that he lived a noble life. A spectacularly bold and uplifting modern fairy tale, the largest part of Along With the Gods takes place in the fantastic, over-the-top afterlife, populated with gods punishing sins of the deceased. Its story is reminiscent of A Christmas Carol, with the main character being lead through his past and present to future reincarnation. On the way, he explores consequences of his past actions that complicate his paragon status. Underneath the fantastic layer, riddled with fights, gods and ghosts, it's ultimately a family melodrama with serious moral dilemmas, touching upon such subjects as euthanasia, military abuse and covered-up murders. Based on the wildly popular webcomic, the film is a star-studded, action-packed fantasy epic about life, death, rebirth, and the unseen forces that guide us through all.

NOTE: This is an online viewing through Aflamuna Online by Beirut DC and is completely FREE to watch until May 20, 2020 on the Aflamuna website.

 
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Directed by Mai Masri

Palestine | 2015 | 103 minutes

In Arabic, Hebrew with English Subtitles

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  Inspired by a true story and shot in a real prison, 3000 Nights traces a young mother’s journey of hope, resilience and survival against all odds. Accused of helping a teenage boy on the run, newlywed Palestinian schoolteacher, Layal finds herself incarcerated in a top security Israeli prison for Palestinian and Israeli women. After Layal discovers that she is pregnant, the prison director pressures her to abort the baby and spy on the Palestinian inmates. Terrified but defiant, Layal gives birth to her child in chains. Through her struggle to raise her son behind bars, Layal manages to find a sense of hope and meaning to her life. When prison conditions deteriorate and the Palestinian prisoners decide to strike, the prison director warns her against joining the strike and threatens to take her child away. In a moment of truth, Layal is forced to make a choice that will forever change her life.

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Directed by John Landis

United States | 1988 | 116 minutes | In English

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  Just let your soul glow with the royally good romantic comedy starring Eddie Murphy as Akeem Joffer a very wealthy and pampered African prince of the fictional African nation of Zamunda where he has been tended to all his life. The wheels are set in motion when his family tries to set up an arranged marriage, but Joffer resists and comes to America in search of a woman who'll love him for himself and not his crown and eventually encounters Lisa (Shari Headley). Accompanied by his closest companion (Arsenio Hall), Murphy quickly finds a job, new friends, new digs, new enemies and lots of trouble. This comedy was a huge hit and received Oscar nominations for costume design and makeup. The plot is paper-thin but the laughs are plenty – so lock that brain away, toss the key and enjoy the absurdity. Keep an eye out for both Murphy and Hall in some unforgettable cameo roles!

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Goutam Ghose

India | 1984 | 124 minutes

In Hindi with English Subtitles

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  When a Harijan (untouchable) wins local elections to the local council in his small village, deadly rioting begins and Naurangia and wife Rama, an impoverished couple, are forced to escape to Calcutta, where they hope to find work. After sleeping on the streets for some days, a dangerous but encouraging chance at earning a little income comes their way. A man has asked them to take his herd of pigs across a fast-moving river. The current is dangerous, and worse, the wife is pregnant and this would not be an easy task even if she were not. Undaunted and desperate, the couple accept the job and enter the river to face their destiny. Featuring tour-de-force acting, cinematography and music this is an awe-inspiring and engaging drama from director Goutam Ghose.

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Presented in collaboration with U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi
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Directed by Alan Hicks, Rashida Jones

United States | 2018 | 124 minutes | In English

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  Quincy is an intimate look into the life of icon Quincy Jones. A unique force of nature in music and popular culture for 70 years, Jones has transcended musical and racial boundaries; his story is inextricably woven into the fabric of Black America. Beyond his own acclaim as a trumpeter, producer, conductor, composer and arranger, Jones’s inimitable gift to discover the biggest talents of the past half of the century is unprecedented. He has mentored and cultivated the careers of young talents, from Lesley Gore and Michael Jackson to Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith. With his boundless energy, Jones has also awakened many generations to the significance of humanitarian issues. Quincy captures the kind of life that can only belong to a man with a big heart and an even bigger will to live forever. Directed by Rashida Jones (Angie Tribeca and Hot Girls Wanted) and Alan Hicks (Keep On Keepin’ On), Quincy, a Netflix original documentary, seamlessly threads personal vérité moments with private archival footage to reveal a legendary life like no other.

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Directed by David Jones

United Kingdom, United States

1987 | 100 minutes | In English

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  A story about love and the love of books, 84 Charing Cross Road features Academy Award winners Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins in stellar performances. Helen Hanff (Bancroft), a feisty New York writer, mails a letter to a small London bookshop requesting some rare English classics. Frank Doel (Hopkins), the reserved English bookseller, answers her request, beginning a touching and humorous correspondence that spans two continents and two decades. Hanff's aloof British demeanor, but their mutual love of books forms a bond that deepens with each passing year. Their intimate, richly detailed letters draw us into their lives as Helen and Frank share theirdreams, hopes, sorrows and joys - and, in doing so, develop a lasting and extraordinary friendship.

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Billy Wilder

USA | 1978 | 116 minutes | In English

RATING: ( PG ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis:  For his penultimate film, director Billy Wilder created this elegiac, potent and richly entertaining mystery of an aging Hollywood goddess and her impossible pursuit of youth. Reuniting with one of his greatest actors William Holden, and co-written with his longtime collaborator I.A.L. Diamond, this is an exquisitely crafted tale of romance and intrigue. Washed-up producer Barry ‘Dutch’ Detweiler (William Holden) travels to the Greek isles to lure the iconic but reclusive actress Fedora (Marthe Keller) out of retirement in a bid to revive both their careers. But her privacy is hard won, and with good reason, and opening up the secrets surrounding her could spell disaster. The deeper Barry infiltrates Fedora’s remote villa, evading an overprotective countess (HIldegard Knef) and a mysterious plastic surgeon (José Ferrer), the closer he comes to discovering the terrible truth behind the actress’s timeless beauty. In telling this fable of Hollywood's faded glory, Wilder continued the exploration of themes first examined in Sunset Boulevard, now decades later through the prism of New Hollywood, Fedora is a great filmmaker’s testament, and a masterful, stirring exploration of cinema’s power.

NOTE: This is an online viewing party and requires that you already have a Netflix account and Google Chrome internet browser with the Netflix Party extension downloaded.

 
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Directed by Annemarie Jacir

Palestine, France, Germany, Colombia, Norway, Qatar, UAE

2017 | 96 minutes | In Arabic with English Subtitles

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers age 15 and above

Synopsis:  A father must come together with his estranged son for a traditional task in this rousing family drama and road movie by renowned Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir. After years abroad in Italy, architect Shadi (Saleh Bakri) returns to his native Nazareth. But this is no spectacular homecoming: he’s back somewhat begrudgingly to honour his “wajib” (or duty) to hand out invitations to his sister’s wedding with his father, Abu Shadi (played by Saleh Bakri’s real-life father, actor-director Mohammad Bakri), a long-time resident. Travelling around the city together in a car, often stuck in traffic, the simmering tensions between them build; with Shadi embodying the views of diasporic Palestinians who may remain politically engaged but grow naïve in their ideas about life back home; and his father, those of the realist negotiating the everyday compromises necessitated by life as an Arab in Nazareth. In Salt of this Sea and When I Saw You, Jacir explored the displacement of Palestinians but here, she examines the experience of Palestinians living within Israel’s borders for the first time. With humour rooted in observational moments, including the Bakris’ uncanny ability to convey the simultaneous love and exasperation that is universally endemic to volatile family relationships, Wajib is a moving tale that dances along the easily blurred line between love and duty.

NOTE: This is an online viewing through Aflamuna Online by Beirut DC and is completely FREE to watch until June 3, 2020 on the Aflamuna website.

 
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Directed by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige

Lebanon, UAE, France, Qatar | 2012 | 95 minutes

In Arabic with English and French Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  In the early 60‘s, during the cold war and the apex of Pan Arabism, a group of students and researchers enters the race to space and create the Lebanese Rocket Society. Sometimes, and specially nowadays, dreams can overtake a tormented history. From 1960 to 1966, a space project was undertaken in Lebanon. Several rockets, which became larger and more powerful with time, were launched from the hills surrounding Beirut by a group of scientists, university students and army experts. This group, led by Manoug Manougian, was called: The Lebanese Rocket Society.

NOTE: This is an online viewing through Aflamuna Online by Beirut DC and is completely FREE to watch until June 3, 2020 on the Aflamuna website.

 
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(Available in the Arab World Only)

Directed by Nassim Abbasi

Morocco | 2010 | 116 minutes

In Arabic with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  "Majid" is Nassim Abassi's this third film as Producer Screenwriter and Film director. Its World Premiere was held at the Dubai International Film Festival. The main character, a ten-year-old Moroccan orphan named Majid (Brahim Al Bakali), has recently moved to Mohammedia with his brother. His brother is an appealing and careless drunk. Majid makes very little money on the streets selling books, and lives a very simple and disheartening life. From the start of the film, Majid is having reoccurring nightmares and soon realizes that he cannot remember his deceased parents; (who had died in a fire) faces anymore. He also realizes that he has no photographs of his parents, except for a ruined family photograph, in which his parents; heads are burnt away from the photo due to the fire. He meets a new street-smart friend named Larbi, who helps him on the journey to find a photograph of his parents. This search leads them to the big city of Casablanca where they come face to face with many dangerous events and become part of a moving adventure.

NOTE: This is an online viewing through Aflamuna Online by Beirut DC and is completely FREE to watch until June 3, 2020 on the Aflamuna website.

 
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Directed by Cynthia Choucair

Lebanon | 2018 | 87 minutes

In Arabic with English and French Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  In February 2016, a group of clowns travel to the Greek island of Lesvos on a mission to bring laughter to the waves of refugees crossing the sea to escape from war and enter Europe. Unwittingly, the clowns find themselves greeted with closed gates witnessing the effects of new policies enacted by the European Union towards the refugees. Cynthia, the sister of one of the clowns, joins them on their journey which slowly becomes a reflection on the sisters’ own tale of displacement during the Lebanese civil war. Moments of humor and joyful laughter bring the clowns back to their original mission, ironically playing with reality to a point where the lines between their clown personalities and their real selves are blurred.

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Directed by Lasse Hallström

United States | 2014 | 122 minutes | In English

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  In “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) is a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch. Displaced from their native India, the Kadam family, led by Papa (Om Puri), settles in the quaint village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in the south of France. Filled with charm, it is both picturesque and elegant – the ideal place to settle down and open an Indian restaurant, the Maison Mumbai. That is, until the chilly chef proprietress of Le Saule Pleureur, a Michelin starred, classical French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Academy Award winner Helen Mirren), gets wind of it. Her icy protests against the new Indian restaurant a hundred feet from her own escalate to all out war between the two establishments – until Hassan’s passion for French haute cuisine and for Mme. Mallory’s enchanting sous chef, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), combine with his mysteriously delicious talent to weave magic between their two cultures and imbue Saint-Antonin with the flavors of life that even Mme. Mallory cannot ignore. At first Mme. Mallory's culinary rival, she eventually recognizes Hassan's gift as a chef and takes him under her wing.

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Alain Resnais

France | 1983 | 110 minutes

In French with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences

Synopsis:  Alain Resnais pays tribute to three influential French filmmakers Georges Melies, Marcel L Herbier and Eric Rohmer with this lighthearted film about happiness and the power of the imagination. Life Is a Bed of Roses is divided into three parallel narratives. The first section is set around the first decade of the twentieth century in the Ardennes, where Count Forbeck (Ruggero Raimondi) unveils his architect’s designs for a utopian city. In a modern day mirroring of this story, a group of professors now inhabiting Forbeck’s castle seek a new form of education through the use of the imagination, under the guidance of a guru named Guarini (Vittorio Gassman). The third segment depicts a Wagnerian fantasy landscape of kings and dragons, which arises from the imagination of the children of some of the professors at the school. With ingenuity and great craftsmanship, Resnais weaves together these three threads to make Life Is a Bed of Roses a compelling and entertaining mixture of drama, satire, comedy, fantasy and music.

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Directed by Spike Lee

United States | 2020 | 154 minutes | In English

RATING: ( 18+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 18 and above

Synopsis:  From Academy Award Winner Spike Lee comes a new joint: the story of four African American Vets - Paul (Delroy Lindo), Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), and Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr.) - who return to Vietnam. Searching for the remains of their fallen Squad Leader (Chadwick Boseman) and the promise of buried treasure, our heroes, joined by Paul's concerned son (Jonathan Majors), battle forces of Man and Nature - while confronted by the lasting ravages of The Immorality of The Vietnam War.

NOTE: This is part of an online MUBI community viewing to spotlight rare and remarkable world cinema. We invite you to watch with us by signing up for your FREE 3 month trial account courtesy of Cinema Akil and MUBI by visiting here: (https://mubi.com/cinemaakil)

 
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Directed by Shyam Benegal

India | 1977 | 136 minutes

In Hindi with English Subtitles

RATING: ( PG ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis:  The film follows the life of a successful film star, revealing her increasing alienation in a role both glamorized and patronized by society. After being forced into show business by her family, she spends her time between studios and disastrous love affairs, and feels more and more dissatisfied. Featuring Smita Patil’s moving portrayal of an unconventional and fascinating actor, Bhumika is a masterful work by Shyam Benegal. Based on the life of 40s Marathi stage actor Hansa Wadkar, this film is a fine study of feminism, male gaze, and the price one has to pay for personal freedom.

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Directed by Anand Tucker

United States, Ireland | 2010 | 100 minutes | In English

RATING: ( PG ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis:  When Anna's (Amy Adams) four-year anniversary to her boyfriend passes without an engagement ring, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Inspired by an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men on Leap Day, Anna follows Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin to propose to him. But airplanes, weather and fate leave Anna stranded on the wrong side of Ireland, and she must enlist the help of the handsome and carefree local Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. As Anna and Declan bicker across the Emerald Isle, they discover that the road to love can take you to very unexpected places.

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Presented in collaboration with Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in the UAE, Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development (MCKD)

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Directed by Yang Woo-Seok

South Korea | 2017 | 139 minutes

In Korean with English Subtitles

RATING: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  Amid a coup, a North Korean agent escapes south with the country's injured leader in an attempt to keep him alive and prevent a Korean war. Um Cheol-woo, a highly trained, lethal operative in the North Korean army, is given an unusual order one day by his superior, General Ri. He is asked to come out of early retirement and travel to an economic zone in Kaesong, a city just over the border from the South, to assassinate two men who pose a grave threat to national security. Um goes as instructed, but an unexpected scene greets him in Kaesong. North Korean soldiers plotting a coup have managed to hack into a highly sophisticated U.S. rocket launcher, and they fire its payload (nicknamed “Steel Rain” for the devastating shrapnel it spreads) directly at Kaesong’s center. As it happens, the North Korean leader (referred to in the film as “No. 1”) is visiting the city that day. But despite causing widespread destruction, the coup plotters’ attempts to kill No. 1 are thwarted by Um, and in the resulting confusion Um manages to cross into South Korea.

Free Film Screening - Family Friendly Program

(NEW FILM RESTORATION!)

Directed by Robert Wise

USA | 1965 | 174 minutes | In English

Rating: ( G ) - General Audiences (all ages admitted)

Synopsis:  One of the most beloved films of all time, Robert Wise’s sumptuous adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway show is one of cinema’s greatest musical extravaganzas. In this true-life story, Julie Andrews lights up the screen as Maria, a spirited young Austrian woman who leaves the convent to become a governess for Captain von Trapp’s (Christopher Plummer) seven unruly children. Her charm and songs soon win the hearts of the children – and their father. But when Nazi Germany unites with Austria, Maria is forced to attempt a daring escape with her new family. The Sound of Music bursts with unforgettable songs and glorious CinemaScope images shot on location in Salzburg, Austria and was restored in a gorgeous new print.

Federico Fellini 100th Anniversary Series - presented in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute

Free Film Screening

(NEW FILM RESTORATION!)

Directed by Federico Fellini

Italy | 1953 | 103 minutes

In Italian with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences (all ages admitted) 

Synopsis:  Five young men linger in a post-adolescent limbo, dreaming of adventure and escape from their small seacoast town. They while away their time to avoid the responsibilities of adulthood, drifting aimlessly and spending the lira doled out by their indulgent families on drink, women, and nights at the local pool hall. Fellini’s second solo directorial effort (originally released in the U.S. as The Young and the Passionate) is a compassionate semi-autobiographical masterpiece of sharply drawn character sketches: Skirt chaser Fausto, forced to marry a girl he has impregnated; Alberto, the perpetual child; Leopoldo, a writer thirsting for fame; and Moraldo, the only member of the group troubled by a moral conscience. The film charts their restlessness and their respective rites of passage. Winner of the prestigious Silver Lion Award at the 1953 Venice Film Festival, recipient of an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay and featuring an achingly beautiful score by Fellini’s regular collaborator Nino Rota, I Vitelloni is a deeply personal and wistfully comic film that was a favorite of director ranging from Stanley Kubrick to Martin Scorsese to Woody Allen, and would also go on to influence many of the filmmakers of the New American Cinema.

Free Film Screening

LA SOURCE DES FEMMES (original title)

Directed by Radu Mihăileanu

France, Belgium, Italy | 2011 | 135 minutes

In Arabic with English Subtitles

Rating: ( 15+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above

Synopsis:  Nestled in the mountains somewhere between North Africa and the Middle East, the women of one village are on strike. Fed up of trekking miles every single day to the nearest well, newly wed Leila (Leïla Bekhti) with the support of her husband Sami (Saleh Bakri) suggest they all go on strike and leads a campaign to force the men to share the duty of bringing water to the village. A love strike until the men pipe water to the village. The men's amused disdain turns to dismay then despair as the women's apparently hopeless cause gathers support, making the village a laughing stock. Tensions within the family also escalate when Sami's mother, Fatima (Hiam Abbass), refuses to join in the love stike, and tries to convince her son to remarry. When national newspaper journalist Sofiane arrives, the men of the village fear even greater humiliation but Sofiane hasn't come to report on the strike. He wants to win back his first love, Leila. Overcoming the wrath of the village elders and an unexpected visit from an old flame, Leila brings the colorful local traditions face-to-face with the modern world. Fun, lively and unforgettable, this is an entertaining journey through the African mountains to the heart of one vibrant community.

Organized and presented by the Cultural Foundation and curated by filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi.

NOTE: This screening is ticketed (30 AED) as part of the Cultural Foundation's Moving Image Program.

Directed by Elia Suleiman

Country: Palestine

Year:  2019

Runtime:  97 minutes

Language:  In Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Hebrew with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences (all ages admitted)

Synopsis:  Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman escapes from Palestine traveling the world seeking an alternative homeland, only to find that Palestine is trailing behind him. The promise of a new life turns into a comedy of errors: however far he travels, from Nazareth to Paris to New York, something always reminds him of home and he spots unexpected similarities between his homeland Palestine and elsewhere. From award-winning director Elia Suleiman, this comic saga explores identity, nationality and belonging, in which Suleiman asks the fundamental question: where is the place we can truly call home?

Presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden

Free Film Screening

MARIA LARSSONS EVIGA ÖGONBLICK (original title)

Directed by Jan Troell

Sweden | 2008 | 131 minutes

In Swedish with English Subtitles

RATING:  15+ (Suitable for viewers ages 15 and above)

Synopsis:  Swedish master Jan Troell, director of the beloved classics The Emigrants and The New Land, returns triumphantly with Everlasting Moments, the vivid, heartrending story of a woman liberated by art at the beginning of the twentieth century. Though poor and abused by her alcoholic husband, Maria Larsson (Maria Heiskanen, in a beautifully nuanced portrayal) finds an outlet in photography, which opens up her world for the first time. With a burnished bronze tint that evokes faded photographs, and a broad empathetic palette, Everlasting Moments—based on a true story—is a miraculous tribute to the power of image making.

Free Film Screening

(NEW FILM RESTORATION!)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

USA | 1946 | 101 minutes | In English

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences - all ages admitted

Synopsis:  With this twisted love story, Alfred Hitchcock summoned darker shades of suspense and passion by casting two of Hollywood’s most beloved stars starkly against type. Ingrid Bergman plays Alicia, an alluring woman with a checkered past recruited by Devlin (Cary Grant), a suave, mysterious intelligence agent, to spy for the U.S. Only after she has fallen for Devlin does she learn that her mission is to seduce a Nazi industrialist (Claude Rains) hiding out in South America. Coupling inventive cinematography with brilliantly subtle turns from his mesmerizing leads, Hitchcock orchestrates an anguished romance shot through with deception and moral ambiguity. A thriller of rare perfection, Notorious represents a pinnacle of both its director’s legendary career and classic Hollywood cinema.

Organized and presented by the Cultural Foundation and curated by filmmaker Nawaf Al Janahi.

NOTE: This screening is ticketed (30 AED) as part of the Cultural Foundation's Moving Image Program.

Directed by Amjad Abu Alala

Country:  Sudan

Year:  2019

Runtime:  103 minutes

Language:  In Arabic with English Subtitles

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences (all ages admitted)

Synopsis: Sudan, province of Aljazira, nowadays - When Muzamil was born, a prophecy by the holy man of the village predicts that he will die when he is 20 years old. Muzamil’s father cannot stand the doom and travels away from home. Sakina, as a single mother, raises her son with over protection. One day, Muzamil turns 19...

80TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION

Free Film Screening - Family Friendly

(NEW FILM RESTORATION!)

Directed by Hamilton Luske, Ben Sharpsteen, Wilfred Jackson, Norm Ferguson, Jack Kinney, T. Hee, Bill Roberts

USA | 1940 | 88 minutes | In English

RATING: ( G ) - General Audiences - all ages admitted

Synopsis:  A brilliant, timeless animated feature, based on Carlo Collodi's story about an inquisitive, tale-spinning wooden puppet has appealed to generations of children and their parents making it one of the most beloved films of all time. It is the little wooden puppet’s greatest wish to become a real boy. But first he must prove himself worthy, so with the help of his Cricket conscience, Jiminy, Pinocchio promises to be brave, loyal and honest. Unfortunately, when he breaks his promises and his nose begins to grow and grow and grow - it leads to a challenging test of his true character. Technically dazzling, emotionally rich, with unforgettable characters and a heartwarming story that has inspired millions, Pinocchio reminds us all of the power of love, family and believing in your dreams. A joy, no matter how many times you see it with timeless songs including the Oscar-winning "When You Wish Upon a Star" this beloved classic reminds us all that dreams really do come true.

Presented in collaboration with Korean Cultural Center

Free Film Screening

Directed by Yoon Jong-bin

South Korea | 2018 | 137 minutes

In Korean, Mandarin, Japanese with English Subtitles

RATING: ( PG-13 ) - Parental Guidance is advised

Synopsis: In 1993, former military officer Park Suk-young is recruited as a spy by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) and given the code name 'Black Venus'. He is then sent to infiltrate a group of high-ranking North Korean officials based in Beijing, with the ultimate goal of acquiring information on the North's nuclear programme. After becoming close to Ri Myong-un, a key power broker, Black Venus succeeds beyond his wildest dreams in gaining the trust of North Korea's leadership. But he faces dangers not only including the obvious one of being found out by the ruthless North Koreans: political machinations on the south side of the border also threaten to derail his accomplishments. Yoon Jong-bin, who started his directing career with The Unforgiven, a controversial exposé of psychological and physical violence in the ranks of military recruits, here delivers an unsentimental and intense, fast-paced story full of fascinating detail.

Presented in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain

Free Film Screening (with English Subtitles)

Please arrive on time. Screening will start promptly at 7:30pm. Doors open at 7:00pm

YEAR:  2019

LANGUAGE: In Spanish with English Subtitles

RATING: ( 18+ ) - Suitable for viewers ages 18 and above

WHAT'S ON? - It's a surprise! We can’t tell you what is showing, but trust us: you want to see this one on the big screen with an audience. Get ready for an extraordinary, compelling, thought-provoking, outstanding film of the month. Whatever it is—and you won’t know until the lights come down—trust us, it’ll be worth it. Satisfy your curiosity at this March surprise screening!

WHAT DO I DO? - RSVP now to reserve seats for yourself and all of your guests. Once you have reserved we will be adding you to the guest list for the show. All RSVP attendees will be receiving an email reminder the day of the show.