In the end it turns out the late Gil Scott-Heron was wrong about one thing. The revolution wasn't just televised, it was filmed, recorded, tweeted, blogged, poked and finally, just three months after Hosni Mubarak fell, it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. When the world's all-powerful popcorn lovers decided to start a new initiative celebrating the cinema of one country at the festival, they symbolically chose Egypt for the inaugural event.
Stifled for decades since its golden age in the middle of the 20th century, Egypt's once world-famous cinema industry could be set for revitalisation. The hat tip from the Croisette is one of several signs that the future for the country's independent filmmakers, who previously struggled under layers of bureaucracy and strict censorship laws, could be an exciting one. Several Egyptian directors plying their trade overseas have hinted that they are planning to return to their homeland, while there is optimism that films that would previously have been banned can now be screened or put into production.
"Hopefully, things are going to change," says Ahmad Abdalla, who directed 2009's Heliopolis and the recent award-winning Microphone, which was being promoted at Cannes. "Everybody is now talking about changing the whole censorship system to a ratings system."
"And we hope the permission process will be made easier so people can go out and shoot on the street, or maybe even cancel the whole permission hassle."
Many directors filming in Egypt have expressed similar hopes. Hesham Issawi, whose independent feature Cairo Exit was premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival last year, was forced to adopt guerrilla tactics in making his film, which features a controversial relationship between a Muslim boy and a Coptic Christian girl, giving the state censors a fake script and filming using mainly small, hand-held cameras.
Issawi has lived and worked in the US since 1990, but is now planning to move back to his homeland for a year or two. "If I don't go back now and try to be in the US and go once or twice a year, I'll lose the momentum. You have to be in the middle of things - I think that's very important. As a filmmaker or artist, who else are you looking for?"
Cairo Exit, which centres on a story of Egyptians desperately wanting to emigrate - something Issawi says was a dream for millions - could now even be shown in the country, although he admits that with the recent wave of violence centred between groups in the Coptic Christian and Muslim communities, the characters could still pose a touchy subject. Issues of cultural sensitivities, he thinks, will take time to adjust.
"The revolution was great and changed things politically," he says. "There is more freedom towards opposing the system, more freedom to criticise the president, the PM, to criticise whomever you want, to talk, to write. But I don't know if there is more freedom for people to be who they are. We need a social revolution, like what happened in the US in the 1960s, the civil rights movement. We still need an ideological change."
But just as the civil rights movement was soundtracked by a colourful backdrop of protest songs, jazz and soul with now-classic films of the time also bringing the counterculture revolution to mainstream channels, it's now the role of Egypt's creatives to help spread the ideological ideas they want for their society. "I think cinema will be even more important now," says Abdalla. "Many directors are afraid, because they keep saying that we are not ready yet. And I totally respect this opinion. But there is another thought saying that we need to comment on our lives and what happened. I think filmmakers should be making films all the time, not waiting until the revolution calms down."
"We need movies that challenge the society," echoes Issawi. "We need artists that push the society towards liberalism. We have to make movies, we have to write books." And with Egypt in its current state, Issawi says it's important to do so immediately, in case less tolerant forces gain prominence. "We need to be extremely active now."
With that in mind, Issawi is already writing the script for a film based on his experiences of the revolution. Having premiered Cairo Exit in Dubai last December, he flew to Egypt, where he intended to stay for a month before returning to the US. But when the protests erupted he found himself immersed in the activity in Tahrir Square (unfortunately his copy of Cairo Exit didn't make it past customs, as it didn't have the required stamp of approval).
"My story is being built around three characters, each one from a different class, who all meet in the protests. It's going to use real footage, so there's going to be some documentary with the fiction."
Screened at Cannes as part of the Egyptian celebrations was a similar film, 18 Days, named after the length of time between January 25, when the demonstrations began, and February 11, when Mubarak finally stepped down. The film is made up of 10 shorts from 10 directors - including Ahmad Abdalla - each telling a story from the revolution. The proceeds from 18 Days, which was made without a budget and on a voluntary basis, will go to providing political and civic education in Egypt's villages.
Abdalla's entry, titled Window, received some of the strongest reviews - a silent film shot entirely in a bedroom as an Egyptian watches the revolution unfold on his computer screen. But while independent directors such as Abdalla, along with the noted and outspoken filmmaker Yousry Nasrallah, were included in the line-up, 18 Days became the centre of controversy because of two other directors involved in the project, Marwan Hamed and Sherif Arafa, both accused of having shot TV commercials for Mubarak's National Democratic Party in 2005. An online petition was started criticising these figures for not having denounced their activity, while several big names from the Egyptian delegation boycotted the screening.
But Abdalla dismisses the idea that these filmmakers are attempting to benefit off the back of the revolution. "We decided not to establish the idea of deciding who should or shouldn't be speaking for the revolution. I think it's very dangerous to start thinking that way. These people are not with the regime, they changed from the first day of the revolution and had very radical changes and decided to support it. But people don't want to forget, they want to continue to have prejudices."
Abdalla, who was in Tahrir Square during the protests and witnessed some of the killing of protesters first-hand, says he doesn't yet have the peace of mind to start another long feature. Instead, he's getting involved in the process via other means. "I'm making political-awareness videos, videos about the military trials. I don't put my name on them; I just want to help young activists to do stuff and put them online. Our media isn't free yet, so we still have to use the internet to show people what is going on."
But when he does turn his thoughts back to filmmaking, it's likely that the world will be listening. With renewed international interest in Egypt, the organisers at Cannes aren't likely to be the only ones wanting to focus on the country's cinema. Issawi's Cairo Exit - which had several sold-out screenings at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York - was recently bought by WDR for the French and German markets, a sale he says was probably given a push by the interest surrounding the revolution.
While some may dismiss cinema as trivial during such a time of political upheaval, it's likely to play an important role in helping shape Egypt's future. The revolution will undoubtedly encourage more independent Egyptian filmmakers to make their own films, some about the uprising itself, others that perhaps push in directions they might not have been able to before. Perhaps it's still far too early to say what will happen, but it's difficult not to be optimistic about the possibilities.
THE%C2%A0SPECS
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Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Date: Sunday, November 25
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 275hp at 6,600rpm
Torque: 353Nm from 1,450-4,700rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Top speed: 250kph
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: Dh146,999
Company%20Profile
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How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Copa del Rey
Barcelona v Real Madrid
Semi-final, first leg
Wednesday (midnight UAE)
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
Why are you, you?
Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
From this question, a new destiny.
For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
Our dream is to unite that which has been
separated by history.
To return the many to the one.
A great story unites us all,
beyond colour and creed and gender.
The lightning flash of art
And the music of the heart.
We reflect all cultures, all ways.
We are a twenty first century wonder.
Universal ideals, visions of art and truth.
Now is the turning point of cultures and hopes.
Come with questions, leave with visions.
We are the link between the past and the future.
Here, through art, new possibilities are born. And
new answers are given wings.
Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.
Ben Okri,
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
Company%20Profile
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie
Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)
Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
Company%20profile
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Read more about the coronavirus
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
On Instagram: @WithHopeUAE
Although social media can be harmful to our mental health, paradoxically, one of the antidotes comes with the many social-media accounts devoted to normalising mental-health struggles. With Hope UAE is one of them.
The group, which has about 3,600 followers, was started three years ago by five Emirati women to address the stigma surrounding the subject. Via Instagram, the group recently began featuring personal accounts by Emiratis. The posts are written under the hashtag #mymindmatters, along with a black-and-white photo of the subject holding the group’s signature red balloon.
“Depression is ugly,” says one of the users, Amani. “It paints everything around me and everything in me.”
Saaed, meanwhile, faces the daunting task of caring for four family members with psychological disorders. “I’ve had no support and no resources here to help me,” he says. “It has been, and still is, a one-man battle against the demons of fractured minds.”
In addition to With Hope UAE’s frank social-media presence, the group holds talks and workshops in Dubai. “Change takes time,” Reem Al Ali, vice chairman and a founding member of With Hope UAE, told The National earlier this year. “It won’t happen overnight, and it will take persistent and passionate people to bring about this change.”
FIGHT%20CARD
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TOP 5 DRIVERS 2019
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 10 wins 387 points
2 Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 4 wins, 314 points
3 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 3 wins, 260 points
4 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 2 wins, 249 points
5 Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1 win, 230 points
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
FA Cup fifth round
Chelsea v Manchester United, Monday, 11.30pm (UAE), BeIN Sports
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Company%20Profile
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Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
