Middle Eastern Challenge - excluding Iran (Official, April 2021)

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus

12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia



While the plot is quite simple on the surface, a strong performance by Waad Mohammed carries things through, and as she shows more personality and individualism than her peers, it is easy to root for her dreams to come true. Especially potent is a subplot in which she tries to win a Qur'an knowledge contest in order to put the prize money towards the bike, thus attempting to use the systems that oppress her to help her achieve her goal.

[sol]

OP updated with beavis participating whether he likes it or not. It's too late, man - you can't take back saying that you saw the film yesterday.



Not sure why the Yemen and UAE colours look so similar. I don't think there's any mistaking them, but I can change it for next time if it's annoying anyone.

[beavis]

OP updated with beavis participating whether he likes it or not. It's too late, man - you can't take back saying that you saw the film yesterday.

I'm not going to be listed in a challenge with only one movie, if you want me to look ridiculous that is on you...

[sol]

OP updated with beavis participating whether he likes it or not. It's too late, man - you can't take back saying that you saw the film yesterday.

I'm not going to be listed in a challenge with only one movie, if you want me to look ridiculous that is on you...

I'm not sure why you think that makes you look ridiculous. There have been several challenges, both this year and last year, in which participants only saw one film. It's not all that uncommon. Also, you may well see another Middle Eastern film this month. Given how many have been nominated for the DTC exercise, it's certainly possible. Most of all though, like Mario, I love the diversity your viewing presents, pushing towards the "other" in the Middle East beyond the main contenders. I like having that representation and I think including your score in the leaderboard helps to accurate reflect what we as a forum have been watching this month.

I honestly don't see any reason not to include you in the leaderboard and give Yemen some extra representation. You certainly do not look ridiculous to me, but if nothing that I have said above convinces you otherwise, let me know and I will exclude your contribution.

[beavis]

please exclude

[sol]

@beavis - I'll take you out of the leaderboard in the next update; hope you'll join in once you've also seen one or two Middle Eastern DTC candidates.

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia

13. Baskın (2015) Turkey



This is very strikingly shot with lots of very pronounced blues and reds, and the build-up to the cops entering a weird building is well done with an especially freaky moment in which a young cop seems to melt into a table before sinking underwater in a segment that totally blurs fantasy and reality. Presented without any clear explanation though, the goings-on at the building are underwhelming. There is much grotesque images/sickening stuff though.

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey

14. Seytan (1974) Turkey



Described by some as a shot-for-shot remake of The Exorcist, this at least has a decent young lead actress who gives Linda Blair a run for her money. The film has a similar eerie score to The Exorcist too. The biggest negative difference is the quality of the practical effects and unfortunately most of them are laughable - most notably, the girl thrown around the bed, which looks more like a bouncy castle. There is also a cheesy fake shock therapy scene.

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey

15. Suicide (2014) Israel



Arrested on suspicion of killing her husband and making it look like a suicide, a housewife's side of the story unravels in this Israeli crime thriller featuring a gangster who is obsessed with William Tell. The film gets off to an intriguing start, but with haphazard editing, almost all intrigue turns to confusion as the film jumps back and forth between different time periods as well as different characters. Everything does sort of make sense by the end though, I guess.

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey
15. Suicide (2014) Israel

16. Foxtrot (2017) Israel



If not quite as potent, this is equally as well photographed as the director's earlier Lebanon with spinning shots and overhead camerawork that perfectly complements the parents' grief and sorrow. The film is noticeably divided into three acts. The first section is the most powerful, focusing on the parents' initial misery. The second act is more roundabout until something unexpected and life-changing happens, but the third act didn't quite grip me the same.

[Armoreska]

2. Resistance is Life 8/10 - Kurdistan, Syria, Kobane - 1st check - there's a segment centered on women
3. Suru (The Herd) 5.5/10 - Kurdistan, Turkey - 4 official lists
4. Yol (The Road) 6/10 - Kurdistan, Turkey - 9 official lists
5. I Want to Live 5/10 - Kurdistan, Iraq, Syria - way too slow for 1x - 2nd check

if anyone need any of the movies I watch, let me know. gonna watch about 10 more.

btw there's an issue with your map, Sol. here, I fixed it

Spoiler

here's a better version btw

Spoiler

[Mario Gaborović]

03. Lebanon (2009) - Israel

Spoiler

01. The Ghost of Peter Sellers (2018) - Cyprus
02. Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (2015) - United Arab Emirates

[DudeLanez]

3. Hudutlarin Kanunu (1966, 234 checks) 6/10 Turkey
4. Capharnaüm (2018, 1677 checks) 7/10 Lebanon

Spoiler

1. Sallah Shabati (1964, 100 checks) 5/10 Israel
2. Al-mummia (1969, 324 checks) 7/10 Egypt
3. Hudutlarin Kanunu (1966, 234 checks) 6/10 Turkey
4. Capharnaüm (2018, 1677 checks) 7/10 Lebanon

[sol]

btw there's an issue with your map, Sol. here, I fixed it

Thanks for the feedback. Kurdistan is an interesting case. The precedent in these challenges has always been to not separate autonomous regions and regard them as countries of their own; e.g. in the Spain-Portugal Challenges, there has never been separate recognition for Catalonia. Obviously the situation is a bit different with Kurdistan as the area covers borders of different countries, but then it isn't listed as its own country on either IMDb or Letterboxd's World Map, which for stats/tracking might make it hard for the average participant to separate. I am not deeply versed on Kurdish history though. Do Kurdish Turks take offence to being called Turkish, etc.?

[sol]

OP updated (with Armo's Kurdish viewings included by his second-listed country of origin for the moment).

New Pie Chart has movement! Egypt is no longer dominant. Turkey and Israel are on the rise!

[blocho]

1. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
A decent slice of life story with solid performances and realistic drama. The fact that a movie like this was even made in a country like Saudi Arabia is more remarkable than the movie itself.

2-6. Fauda (2015) Israel
Season 1, Episodes 1-12, 419 minutes total
Without any reference to the political content, this thriller series is full of plot holes and characters without any depth.

[Armoreska]

wow what a cool map there.
Someone should watch a movie connected to Oman.

btw North America/Europe don't recognize Palestine but it's on Letterboxd (UN status helps i guess) - cool.

Rojava (Syria) and Bashur (Iraq) are the only secular middle eastern countries, says wikipedia. The other two parts of Kurdistan (Bakur, Rojhilat) have official religion Islam, I guess.

[sol]

wow what a cool map there.
Someone should watch a movie connected to Oman.

btw North America/Europe don't recognize Palestine but it's on Letterboxd (UN status helps i guess) - cool.

Yeah, I think the UN status is the clincher in terms of getting your country recognised on IMDb, Letterboxd and other such websites.

I will include a link to your map in the OP, but I'm not going to ask participants to make the distinction themselves when listing viewings from Turkey, Syria or Iraq. You are welcome to do so yourself though. I think that is fair.

And yeah, I don't know what the deal is with Oman either. I have stuff lined up to watch from everywhere else in the Middle East, I think. If you know more about the Oman situation, please share. One of the reasons why I participate in challenges like these is to learn more about the areas.

[Armoreska]

Zayana (#1 Omani movie) or any other by that director is not available to me.
However I found this music video
https://vimeo.com/299646917
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9643212

[sol]

I'm going to say that yes - you can include that music video if you watch it as part of an 80min batch of short films.

[flavo5000]

7. The Insult (Cyprus/Lebanon, 2017)


8. Kiliç Aslan a.k.a. The Sword and the Claw (Turkey, 1975)

Spoiler

1. Homoti (Turkey, 1987)
2. Who Breaks... Pays (Turkey, 1975)
3. Anayurt Oteli a.k.a. Motherland Hotel (Turkey, 1987)
4. Umut (Turkey, 1970)
5. Zaytoun (Israel, 2012)
6. Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (UAE, 2015)
7. The Insult (Cyprus/Lebanon, 2017)
8. Kiliç Aslan a.k.a. The Sword and the Claw (Turkey, 1975)

[Bing147]

4. Capernaum (2018) Lebanon

[Mario Gaborović]

04. Kippur (2000) - Israel
05. Cinema 500 KM (2006) - Saudi Arabia
06. Turist Ömer Uzay Yolu'nda (1973) - Turkey

Spoiler

01. The Ghost of Peter Sellers (2018) - Cyprus
02. Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (2015) - United Arab Emirates
03. Lebanon (2009) - Israel

[sol]

Thank you (!?) to flavo for piquing my interest in:

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey
15. Suicide (2014) Israel
16. Foxtrot (2017) Israel

17. Homoti (1987) Turkey



Widely known as Turkey's remake of E.T. with a gay alien, Homoti is a film with undeniable curiosity value. Narrative-wise, it is actually a lot different from E.T. and while a gay subtext could indeed be read in some scenes, nothing is ever really explicit. The vast majority of the film is also set in a single living room; things only get really interesting towards the end as the alien uses his powers to teleport, freeze cameras and suspend others in midair. Weird stuff.

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey
15. Suicide (2014) Israel
16. Foxtrot (2017) Israel
17. Homoti (1987) Turkey

18. Silveraven (2012) Bahrain



Bahrain's answer to Superman, this low budget brief feature focuses on a humanoid alien girl who grows up on Earth, only realising her superpowers in adulthood, which she tries to use for the betterment of society. Made by college students as a charity project, the whole thing is watchable if entered into with the right expectations. The initial scenes in space with very fake CGI backgrounds and poor ADR work are, however, a bit tough to get through.

[Armoreska]

Bahrain's answer to Superman

6. Bekas 5/10 - Kurdistan, Iraq + Europe - well-liked by someone on forum - 3eyes (as road movie as well)
Plot REVOLVES around Superman popularity in those days.

as for #17 wow you guys enjoy weird stuff

you can include that music video if you watch it as part of an 80min batch of short films.

nah i dont mean we were gonna put it on the map with the music video, just glad i managed to watch something tagged as Oman on IMDb (that also doesn't completely suck).
anyone puts Oman on the map is the winner of this challenge.
currently I am for putting Syria, Iraq and Kurdistan.

Sol you could add my Kurdish list to the mix: https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/kurd ... armoreska/
I will put Yemen on the map with that movie (couldn't find any better ones quickly)
and Jordan too, with Captain Abu Raed
_{(again, lemme know if anyone who's poor wants those)}

[Armoreska]

oh I watched a few Mid Eastern Oscar nominees on April 2 before I even knew there was a challenge.
with the "Omani" music video, this means I'm at ~50mins. can I count this as a check? I'll try to find another to watch this month but will not force it for now:
Palestine - The Present 4/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11474480/reference
Israel - White Eye 8!/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10538710/reference

[flavo5000]

Thank you (!?) to flavo for piquing my interest in:

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey
15. Suicide (2014) Israel
16. Foxtrot (2017) Israel

17. Homoti (1987) Turkey



Widely known as Turkey's remake of E.T. with a gay alien, Homoti is a film with undeniable curiosity value. Narrative-wise, it is actually a lot different from E.T. and while a gay subtext could indeed be read in some scenes, nothing is ever really explicit. The vast majority of the film is also set in a single living room; things only get really interesting towards the end as the alien uses his powers to teleport, freeze cameras and suspend others in midair. Weird stuff.

If you want to dig even deeper into the recesses of Turkish weirdness, I had created a list based on an e-book I found digging through the Googles:
Disregarded Movies of Turkish Cinema

[Armoreska]

found in previous challenge
3eyes' list of Kurdish directors

Spoiler

Iran: Bahman Ghobadi, Shahram Mokri, Jamil Rostami (Iran), Shahram Qadir (Iran-Sweden)
Iraq: Hiner Saleem (Iraq), Hisham Zaman (Iraq-Norway), Halkawt Mustafa (Iraq-Norway), Karzan Kader (Iraq-Sweden), Jano Rosebiani (Iraq-US)
Syria: Wiam Bedirxan (Syria [woman]), Mano Kahlil (Syria-Switzerland).
Turkey: Zeynel Dogan, Yilmaz Güney, Huseyin Karabey (Turkey), Yüksel Yavuz (Turkey-Germany)

btw more correct (less-eurocentric) names for countries here
Kipros
Lubnan
Suriya
Urdun
Misr (Egypt)
and the whole region should be something like Levantine Sea+Arabian Peninsula(+Anatolia+Mesopotamia)

[sol]

nah i dont mean we were gonna put it on the map with the music video, just glad i managed to watch something tagged as Oman on IMDb (that also doesn't completely suck).
anyone puts Oman on the map is the winner of this challenge.
currently I am for putting Syria, Iraq and Kurdistan.

Sol you could add my Kurdish list to the mix: https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/kurd ... armoreska/
I will put Yemen on the map with that movie (couldn't find any better ones quickly)
and Jordan too, with Captain Abu Raed

I will add your list when I next update the OP. Probably tomorrow my time.

In terms of getting countries "on the map", the pie chart generator that I use is a bit strict with values. I might be able to add an 'Other' section in though and provide a secondary pie chart for the other section. I'll try to work on something before the next pie chart update.

oh I watched a few Mid Eastern Oscar nominees on April 2 before I even knew there was a challenge.
with the "Omani" music video, this means I'm at ~50mins. can I count this as a check? I'll try to find another to watch this month but will not force it for now:
Palestine - The Present 4/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11474480/reference
Israel - White Eye 8!/10 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10538710/reference

Yeah, that doesn't count as a point until you watch another 30 minutes worth of shorts and/or episodes. If you do, let me know and I'll give you the point - and give Oman the representation.

found in previous challenge
3eyes' list of Kurdish directors

Spoiler

Iran: Bahman Ghobadi, Shahram Mokri, Jamil Rostami (Iran), Shahram Qadir (Iran-Sweden)
Iraq: Hiner Saleem (Iraq), Hisham Zaman (Iraq-Norway), Halkawt Mustafa (Iraq-Norway), Karzan Kader (Iraq-Sweden), Jano Rosebiani (Iraq-US)
Syria: Wiam Bedirxan (Syria [woman]), Mano Kahlil (Syria-Switzerland).
Turkey: Zeynel Dogan, Yilmaz Güney, Huseyin Karabey (Turkey), Yüksel Yavuz (Turkey-Germany)

btw more correct (less-eurocentric) names for countries here
Kipros
Lubnan
Suriya
Urdun
Misr (Egypt)
and the whole region should be something like Levantine Sea+Arabian Peninsula(+Anatolia+Mesopotamia)

Thanks for the info. Have to remember to ask you to host this challenge next time.

[sol]

If you want to dig even deeper into the recesses of Turkish weirdness, I had created a list based on an e-book I found digging through the Googles:
Disregarded Movies of Turkish Cinema

Will see how I go. I didn't quite like Homoti enough to want to dig further; just a weird oddity.

[Armoreska]

I'm going to say that yes - you can include that music video if you watch it as part of an 80min batch of short films.

dang it's 80 now, I'm used to 60! harsh! I'll see what I can do.

[flavo5000]

If you want to dig even deeper into the recesses of Turkish weirdness, I had created a list based on an e-book I found digging through the Googles:
Disregarded Movies of Turkish Cinema

Will see how I go. I didn't quite like Homoti enough to want to dig further; just a weird oddity.

Homoti is pretty much bottom of the barrel on Turkish craziness. Give 3 Dev Adam or The Deathless Devil a try for an actual entertaining one.

[AB537]

3. Uzak - Distant (Nuri Bilge Ceylan, 2002) 7.5/10 ... Turkey

[Mario Gaborović]

07. Drakula Istanbul'da (1953) - Turkey
08. Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever (2011) - Turkey

Spoiler

01. The Ghost of Peter Sellers (2018) - Cyprus
02. Bilal: A New Breed of Hero (2015) - United Arab Emirates
03. Lebanon (2009) - Israel
04. Kippur (2000) - Israel
05. Cinema 500 KM (2006) - Saudi Arabia
06. Turist Ömer Uzay Yolu'nda (1973) - Turkey

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey
15. Suicide (2014) Israel
16. Foxtrot (2017) Israel
17. Homoti (1987) Turkey
18. Silveraven (2012) Bahrain

19. Jeruzalem (2015) Israel



While the premise itself is hardly new or original, this comes with the novelty of being shot for the most part through a pair of Google Glass lenses with the movie getting some decent mileage out of the glasses malfunctioning, playing loud music at the worst possible times and receiving text messages at key points. That said, for the most part the glasses do not appear 'turned on' with the majority of the film feeling like a simple first person POV thriller.

[sol]

OP updated. Updated Pie Chart:



Breakdown of 'Other' countries:

Spoiler

Pie Chart including Kurdistan:

Spoiler

[jdidaco]

(Screenshots from 'Djinn' & 'It Must Be Heaven'),



7. Sisler Kovulunca (When the Fog Is Swept Away, Suha Arin, 1986) 8/10 (Turkey)
8. Dyo ilioi ston ourano (Two Suns in the Sky, Yiorgos Stamboulopoulos, 1991) 8/10 (Cyprus)
9. Djinn (Tobe Hooper, 2013) 7.5/10 (United Arab Emirates)
10. The Prophet (Roger Allers, Gaëtan Brizzi & Paul Brizzi, Joan C. Gratz, Mohammed Saeed Harib, Tomm Moore, Nina Paley, Bill Plympton, Joann Sfar and Michal Socha, 2014) 7.5/10 (Lebanon/Qatar)
11. It Must Be Heaven (Elia Suleiman 2019) 9/10 (Palestine/Qatar/Turkey)
12. Sublet (Eytan Fox, 2020) 7/10 (Israel)

Spoiler

1. Nagu'a (Drifting, Amos Guttman, 1982) 8.5/10 (Israel)
2. Leila wa al ziap (Leila and the Wolves, Heiny Srour, 1984) 9/10 (Lebanon)
3. Ha'Meshotet (The Wanderer, Avishai Sivan, 2010) 7/10 (Israel)
4. Martyr (Mazen Khaled, 2017) 7.5/10 (Lebanon)
5-6. El-Fallâh el-fasîh (The Eloquent Peasant, Chadi Abdel Salam, 1970) 9.5/10 (21 min) (Egypt) (RV), Afâq (Horizons, Chadi Abdel Salam, 1972) 8/10 (39 min) (Egypt), Gîyoush el shams (Armies of the Sun, Chadi Abdel Salam, 1974) 9/10 (39 min) (Egypt), Tahtaci Fatma (Fatma of the Forest, Suha Arin, 1979) 8.5/10 (28 min) (Turkey), Gulyabani (Gürcan Keltek, 2018) 8.5/10 (34 min) (Turkey) (Total: 161 min)

[sol]

Middle Eastern Promises

1. The Farewell Party (2014) Israel
2. Zero Motivation (2014) Israel
3. Can't Complain (2007) Egypt
4. Savage Raghda (2018) Egypt
5. 1000 Mabrouk (2009) Egypt
6. Very Big Shot (2015) Lebanon
7. Kalek Shanab (2019) UAE
8. Hey There! (2021) Turkey
9. In Paradox (2019) Kuwait
10. Zaki Chan (2005) Egypt
11. Attila 74 (1975) Cyprus
12. Wadjda (2012) Saudi Arabia
13. Baskın (2015) Turkey
14. Seytan (1974) Turkey
15. Suicide (2014) Israel
16. Foxtrot (2017) Israel
17. Homoti (1987) Turkey
18. Silveraven (2012) Bahrain
19. Jeruzalem (2015) Israel

20. Alexandria...Why? (1979) Egypt



This wartime drama from Youssef Chahine focuses on a teenager who loves Hollywood films and wants to become an actor. The film is full of memorable bits and pieces, including a feisty performance in class, but this is generally an episodic and melodramatic affair, and his love of cinema takes a backseat. The final couple of scenes (and crazy last shot in particular) hint at some disillusionment, but this generally hit me less hard than the great Cairo Station.

[Armoreska]

Müslüm (2017) - Turkey
This short votestuffed short tells us to just be happy. gee thanks!

[ororama]

3-6. Paranormal: The Myth of the House (2020) * 51 min. 
Paranormal: The Myth of the Curse of the Pharaoh (2020) * 46 min. 
Paranormal: The Myth of the Guardian of The Cave (2020) * 55 min. 
Paranormal: The Myth of the Naiad (2020) * 48 min.
Paranormal: The Myth of the Incubus (2020) * 45 min.
Paranormal: The Myth of the House: The Return (2020) * 53 min. Egypt

Fun horror series in which a skeptical medical school professor in late 1960's Cairo investigates mysterious supernatural occurrences, some of which are tied to his childhood.

Taking a few minutes from my next series (a Turkish crime drama miniseries) to bring my total up to the full point.

Spoiler

1. Warda (2014) * 73 min.  Egypt
2. Grandmother's Farm (2013) * 71 min. United Arab Emirates

* First time viewing.