VIFF Film: A New Day in Old Sana'a

今年的VIFF只看了兩部電影　其中一部"A New Day in Old Sana'a"我非常的喜歡　這部電影是UK and Yemen的　2005年　90分鐘　Canadian Premiere　Directed by Bader Ben Hirsi　 這是Yemen的第一部大電影　是一部美麗的愛情片　片子把Yemen的日常生活　民俗風情　衣著　風景　階級　當然還有愛情以及婚禮習俗　借用這bittersweet romance描述的栩栩如生　看了這部電影之後　不但內心很有感覺　也對Yemen的文化了解不少　女人們的穿著打扮　對於愛以及婚姻的期待和害怕　傳統的風俗　結婚的步驟　等等　都由電影呈現在觀眾眼前　除了故事本身外　對我震撼最大的不外乎是女人的穿著以及美麗的風景　電影裡的女人　無論是日常生活的穿著　還是及將要結婚的女孩在她婚禮前parties裡精緻的穿著　總是給我很大的震撼　我覺得她們的衣著是美麗的　年輕人不能選擇自己人生的另一半以及在婚前不能看到自己要結婚的對象是無奈的　階級不同的人不可以結婚是悲傷的　看完這部電影讓我想了很多　不知道故事裡三位主要人物後來有沒有得到他們想要的幸福　我想　可能只有他們自己知道吧　我真的很高興有這個機會去看這部電影　要有機會看到Yemen的電影真是少之又少　這部電影又是Yemen的首部大片　要不是VIFF　應該看不到吧　真的很開心今年選了這部電影看　明年也會再次留意Yemen的電影　"A New Day in Old Sana'a"真是一部好電影!!

VIFF site info:
A New Day in Old Sana'a
[NEWDA]
UK, Yemen, 2005, 90 min, Color, 35mm
Canadian Premiere

Directed By: Bader Ben Hirsi
PROD: Ahmed Abdali
SCR: Bader Ben Hirsi
CAM: Muriel Aboulrouss
MUS: Ahmed Abdali
Cast: Dania Hammoud, Redha Khoder, Paolo Romano, Nabil Saber, Sahar Alasbahi

The first Yemeni fiction feature is a bittersweet romantic comedy boasting a keen wit and a charming lightness of touch. Unfolding against the amazing architectural backdrop of the ancient capital city, it tells a story of love, class and mistaken identity in a traditional society slowly undergoing modernization.

Tariq, the handsome son of an aristocrat, is about to enter an arranged marriage with Bilquis, the daughter of a judge. Although the two have never met, Tariq's sister assures him of his fiancée's great beauty and other fine qualities. As is customary, the groom sends the bride-to-be many gifts, including a splendid white dress. When Tariq wanders the streets late one night, he spots a beautiful girl wearing the billowy gown that he sent to his betrothed. Assuming her to be Bilquis, he falls madly in love. But things are not quite what they seem and soon Tariq must make a devastating choice between following his heart and protecting his family's honor.

Writer-director Bader Ben Hirsi (The English Sheikh and The Yemeni Gentleman) had to overcome many hurdles to shoot in Yemen. Groups seeking to stop the production fabricated rumors that the storyline was salacious and that the crew had shot a sex scene outside a mosque during prayer. An actor was even stabbed. Best Arabic Film, Cairo Film Festival.


From Wikinews, the free news source you can write!
Yemen's first-ever feature film to be screened at Cannes Festival
May 6, 2005

The first ever feature-length film to be shot in Yemen will be screened, but will not compete for prizes, at this year's international Cannes Film Festival. The 90-minute romantic drama by British-Yemeni film director, Bader Ben Hirsi, is titled A New Day in Old Sanaa'a.

"For the most people viewing this film, it will be the first time they ever see images of Yemen. The results will be a very positive message" which offers a "true and honest" portrait of life in Yemen, said a spokesman from the Yemeni Media Center in 2003, when the film was in the planning stage. The film will depict aspects that are "completely different from the negative image that most of the world has" of the Middle-Eastern Arab nation, said the spokesman.

Sana'a, where the capital of Yemen has been relocated since 1962, is known for its Muslim university and many mosques, as a center of Islamic culture. It was noted in medieval times as a beautiful and hospitable city, and was described by the 10th century Persian traveler Ahmad ibn Rustah as follows: "It is the city of Yemen — there not being found in the highland or the Tihama or the Hijaz a city greater, more populous or more prosperous, of more noble origin or more delicious food than it... with fine dwellings."

The leading actor is Nabil Saber of Old Sana'a, and his co-star is the actress and make-up artist Julia Towns of London. The pair found real-life romance and exchanged wedding vows last year in London, after bowing to tradition and obtaining agreement from both their families.

The film, co-produced by the Yemen Media Center and Felix Films of London, is not yet 100% complete due to funding shortfall. There is planned to be a low-key showing to introduce the film at the Marché du Film (Film Market) portion of the Cannes Festival, but it is not eligible to compete for the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) due to its unfinished status. The official premiere is to be held this summer, with widespread promotion and showing in universities and art centers around the world.

Ben Hirsi commented on his film, "A New Day in Old Sana'a could be categorized as a romantic drama, showing a very real conflict between modern values and old, [but] is respectful of the strong morals of Yemen's Islamic society. It does not contain such cinematic norms as profanity, graphic violence or sexually explicit content... As is true in modern-day Sana'a, however, traditional practices and concepts are tackled and confronted — topics such as love, caste, Yemeni marriage customs and the wearing of the veil are addressed in detail, and the inner turmoil that results from changing social values in a modernizing society forms a central theme of the story."