The Stoning of Soraya M.

Everything about this film looks intense. Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Nativity Story) and James Caviezel (The Count of Monte Cristo) are two underrated actors and when you pair them together I'm sure they'll bring the necessary depth to their characters, especially in weighty piece like this.

The Stoning of Soraya M. is a drama set in 1986 Iran and centered on a man, Sahebjam (Caviezel), whose car breaks down in a remote village and enters into a conversation with Zahra (Aghdashloo), who relays to him the story about her niece, Soraya, whose arranged marriage to an abusive tyrant had a tragic ending.

Official Site: www.thestoning.com

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The Situation

I'm a big of movies that center around journalists so I had to check this out when it came on the Sundance channel.

The Situation is set against the backdrop of the Iraqi war, and a love triangle between a CIA operative, an American journalist, and an Iraqi photographer.

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Arranged

Movies about unexpected friendships are usually entertaining and this one looks like a winner...

Arranged centers on the friendship between an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman who meet as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn.

I'm especially interested in seeing more of Zoe Lister-Jones' films and this one is next on my list.


Official Website: www.arrangedthemovie.com

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Caramel (Sukkar banat)

I DVRed this when it came on the Sundance channel but I only saw half of it because I accidentally erased it. What I did catch was good though! It's full of vibrant colors and interesting characters. I have to find out what happens in the end.

Caramel is a romantic comedy centered on the daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut.

Official Site: www.caramelmovie.co.uk

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Detroit Unleaded

I met Rola Nashef at a filmmaking event and she's committed to getting more Arab American stories told. For a limited time you watch her short film Detroit Unleaded online.

It's a comedic drama about an Arab-owned gas station in a predominantly African American neighborhood on Detroit’s East Side; a place where widely diverse customers and gas station workers come in and out of each others lives, exploring themes of race, economics, friendship and love, through the personal identities and encounters that shape the Arab American and immigrant experience.

A feature length film based off the short is in the works.

Official Site: www.detroitunleaded.com

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American East

It's nice to see more movies being made about the Arab American experience. I just wish they got wide releases.

American East is about a family man who opens an authentic Middle Eastern restaurant with his best friend, who's Jewish.

The most notable cast members include Tony Shalhoub (Monk), Alfre Woodard (American Violet) and Erick Avari (Mr. Deeds).


This film also touches upon the issue of being an Arab American actor in Hollywood. What do you think has to be done for us to see more Arab Americans get cast in non-terrorist leading roles?

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Lemon Tree

Hiam Abbass had a superb supporting role in The Visitor and now I'm willing to check out anything she's in. This one looks good...

Lemon Tree is a drama based on the true story of a Palestinian widow who must defend her lemon tree field when a new Israeli Defense Minister moves next to her and threatens to have her lemon grove torn down.

It's possible that Abbass could garner some buzz for this role come awards season. At least I hope so!


Official Site: www.lemontreemovie.com

[Hat tip Women & Hollywood]

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Salt of this Sea

Salt of this Sea is about a Palestinian-American taking a trip to her "Motherland" for the first time. Some of you may remember the lead actress, Suheir Hammad, from her Def Poetry Jam days. I happened to see her on tour and she's a pretty solid performer.


Official Site: www.philistinefilms.org

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Goodbye Solo

Ramin Bahrani knows how to capture beauty of a struggle. Just check out his film Man Push Cart. He tells stories that are eerily haunting in an all too real gritty way.

Goodbye Solo is Bahrani's latest offering and it looks like it will be another one of his bittersweet masterpieces.

On the lonely roads of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, two men forge an improbable friendship that will change both of their lives forever. Solo is a Senegalese cab driver working to provide a better life for his young family. William is a tough Southern good ol‘ boy with a lifetime of regrets. One man‘s American dream is just beginning, while the other‘s is quickly winding down.

You can check Goodbye Solo at the SXSW fest or later on when it opens in NYC and Chicago on March 27th.


Official Site: www.goodbyesolomovie.com

[Hat tip Front of the Row]

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Amreeka

Amreeka has been getting some good buzz at Sundance. It definitely sounds like my kind of film.

Amreeka is a warm and lighthearted film about one Palestinian family’s tumultuous journey into Diaspora amidst the cultural fallout of America’s war in Iraq. Muna Farah, a Palestinian single mom, struggles to maintain her optimistic spirit in the daily grind of intimidating West Bank checkpoints, the constant nagging of a controlling mother, and the haunting shadows of a failed marriage. Everything changes one day when she receives a letter informing her that her family has been granted a U.S. green card.

There's a great interview with the director, Cherien Dabis, over at the Women and Hollywood blog where she talks about the need for Arab-American films and how President Obama's presence in the top seat is a positive step in cultivating that change.

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Nose, Iranian Style (Damagh Be Sabke Irani)

I watched this documentary on the Sundance channel, it's a really intriguing subject. I had no idea that nose jobs were such an epidemic over there. Did you?

"Iran is the world leader in rhinoplasty with an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 operations each year. In a country that discourages personal expression and disdains Western culture, young Iranians eagerly change their noses to model images in European and American fashion magazines."

Director: Mehrdad Oskouei

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These Girls (El-Banate Dol)

Anyone happen to catch this when it was at the Cannes Film Fest?

"[El-Banate dol] follows a band of teenage girls living on the streets of Cairo. Already at a disadvantage as impoverished and abused girls in a Muslim society, they encounter rape, drug addiction, prostitution, pregnancy and motherhood on the streets."

To watch the trailer click here.

Director: Tahani Rached

For more info visit Women Make Movies

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A Thousand Years of Good Prayers

A Chinese man travels to America, reconnects with his daughter and meets an intriguing Iranian woman. Lots of interesting drama going on here.



Director: Wayne Wang
Starring: Henry O and Vida Ghahremani

For Fans of...The Joy Luck Club and Something's Gotta Give

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Heavy Metal in Baghdad

The title pretty much says it all. "In the late summer of 2006, in the middle of the insurgency, filmmakers Eddy Moretti and Suroosh Alvi traveled to Baghdad to meet and interview the only heavy metal band in Iraq, Acrassicauda" (IMDb).



Official website: www.heavymetalinbaghdad.com

For Fans of...Afro Punk and Heima

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Sabah

Sabah delves us into the story of a 40-year-old Muslim woman (Sabah) who finds love in an unexpected white Canadian dude. The story is cute and charming, introducing us to a Muslim family in an engaging and fun way. Every character pops out, full of quirks and complexities giving the film an authentic and relatable vibe. Don't expect any one-dimensional boringness here. The scene where Sabah learns how to dance is priceless. Sabah is exactly the kind of movie that the American market needs, so Hollywood take note!

Click here to watch the trailer.

Director/Writer: Ruba Nadda
Starring: Arsinée Khanjian and Shawn Doyle
Soundtrack: TBD

For Fans of...My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Something New

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Middle East International Film Fest

Oct. 10th - 19th

@ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

www.meiff.com

Featuring...Marock, a film about teen girls in Morocco.

Director: Leila Marrakshi. Starring: Morjana Alaoui

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Allah Made Me Funny

If the movie is as good as the trailer then I'm sure I'll be laughing. Stand-up comedy has a way of uniting people even when it comes to tough issues like racism. This documentary features three Muslim American comedians expressing some of their issues in a humorous way that can hopefully start a much-needed dialogue regarding stereotypes post 9/11.



Director: Andrea Kalin
Starring: Mohammed Amer, Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman.

For Fans of...The Original Kings of Comedy and The Original Latino Kings of Comedy

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Offside

Girls can be sports fanatics too! But it's not so easy for teenage girls to visit soccer games in Iran, it's actually forbidden. And soccer outside of the USA is big stuff. Could you imagine someone telling you that you couldn't go to the Superbowl if you already had tickets? That's what it's like for the girls in Offside. They have to dress up like boys and risk getting arrested in order to see a game that they love. For a film that deals with such a heavy social justice issue it has some pleasant moments that make you smile.



Director: Jafar Panahi
Starring: Sima Mobarak-Shahi and Ayda Sadeqi.
Soundtrack: TBD

For Fans of...Osama and Bend It Like Beckham.

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Man Push Cart

Warning: This movie will leave you heavy-hearted (but in a Sundance film festival kind of way). Man Push Cart is a tragic yet poignant story of a Pakistani immigrant trying to forge a life for himself in New York City. In his home country he used to be a rock star but now he must face the daily reality of being a "faceless" street vendor. This film has an artistic tone that sucks you into his world and urges you to feel his monunmetal struggles and his little joys. It paints a picture of life in New York through a much-needed lens.



Director/Writer: Ramin Bahrani
Starring: Ahmad Razvi
Soundtrack: Peyman Yazdanian

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