Watch to Watch in North Africa This September
Egyptian films are shining at the 81st Venice Film Festival and dominating the Arabic language section. From two feature debuts — Khaled Mansour’s “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” and Muhammed Hamdy’s “Perfumed With Mint” — to a record three titles in the works-in-progress incubator “Final Cut.”
Tunisian directors are also represented at the festival, namely Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s sophomore feature “Aïcha” and Hind Meddeb’s political documentary “Sudan, Remember Us.” While we cannot wait to watch these films once they’ve finished their festival tours, here are new releases across cinemas and streaming platforms to enjoy in the meantime.‘Omar Affendi’ (Egypt)
Starring Ahmed Hatem, Omar Affendi has been gluing people across the region to their screens. The series is written by Mustafa Hamdy and directed by Abdel Rahman Abu Ghazala; it tells the story of a man in his thirties who stumbles across a secret basement that takes him back to the year 1943, revealing a past he did not know about. His curiosity drives him to live a double life in two different times, and of course he falls into a love story with Aya Samah, who plays the role of the dancer Zizi. After the first episode aired, “Omar Affendi” topped the Google search engine in Egypt.
Where to watch: Shahid
‘Triple A’ (Morocco)
Moroccan director and screenwriter Jihane El Bahhar’s highly anticipated film Triple A will go on a national cinematic tour this month, bringing a dark comedy-drama about love, health, and marginalization to the screen. Starring Majdouline Idrissi, Aziz Dadas and Hind Benjbara, the narrative follows three intersecting love stories of the overlooked and underestimated. Drawing inspiration from real-life characters, El Bahhar and her co-writer Nadia Kamali Marwazi infused the film script with poetic passages from Lebanese American writer Khalil Gibran's “The Prophet.” “Triple A” won the Best Foreign Film award at the Soho International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Maghreb Film Festival in Haarlem, as well as the Jury Prize at the Naples International Film Festival.
Where to watch: Moroccan cinemas from September 11.
‘Kira & El Gin’ (Egypt)
Going back even further in time, the Egyptian epic Kira & El Gin centers around Ahmed Abdel-Hay Kira and Abdel-Qader El Gen, two men whose destinies intertwine when they join the fight against British occupation during Egypt’s 1919 revolution. Adapted from his novel 1919 (2014), the script is written by Ahmed Mourad. The film is directed by Marwan Hamed, starring Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Ezz, and the formidable Hind Sabri. It balances intimate, alternating re-enactments of historical atrocities with the personal stories of the resistance fighters, focusing on their inner turmoil between longing for justice and desiring a normal life.
Where to watch: Netflix and Shahid
‘Samar: Before the Final Picture’ (Egypt)
This documentary follows Samar who tries to rebuild her life after an acid attack by her ex-partner. Set in between Cairo and Dubai, the film captures five years of her mental and physical healing journey through helping Sanaa, another woman who was subjected to acid, undergo treatment and reconstructive surgery for her wounds. Produced and directed by Aya Tallah Yusuf, this intimate film explores healing, resilience and self-acceptance, as well as the implications of patriarchal violence against women.
Where to watch: Zawya Cinema Cairo
‘Youm 13’ (Egypt)
This Egyptian horror film is the first feature to be released in 3D technology in the Arabic-speaking world. It tells the story of Ezz El-Din, who returns to Cairo after he lived in Canada for many years, trying to sell his family’s mansion. To disprove the rumors that the palace is haunted, he is forced to live in the mansion and soon discovers that it is in fact haunted. Directed and written by Wael Abdallah, the film stars Ahmed Dawood and Dina El-Sherbiny. While Youm 13 (Arabic for day 13) didn’t receive great reviews for its use of American horror tropes and slow beginning, it is said to have a solid mystery at its core and a refreshing twist in its depiction of women.
Where to watch: Netflix
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