As a movie buff with a deep appreciation for international cinema, I’m thrilled to see the exciting new projects emerging from Wrong Films, a production company that’s been making waves in the industry with their unique and thought-provoking films. I was particularly intrigued by the announcement of their latest Arabic-language genre movie, “Thaoura,” by David Arslanian, which is set against the backdrop of Lebanon’s 2019 protests.
After winning the Sundance Jury Prize with her sci-fi drama “Animalia,” Sofia Alaoui from France is working on another film in an Arabic language and genre, titled “Thaoura.” This movie, which is a debut for director David Arslanian, is based on the 2019 public protests in Lebanon that marked the country’s worst economic crisis since the 1850s.
At the Locarno Film Festival’s Match Me! event from August 9-11, Mathilde Warisse of Wrong Films will present “Thaoura” to prospective partners. Currently, Arslanian and Thomas Desenne are collaborating on the screenplay for this project. Desenne, a writer for Arte series “Le Somnambuliste,” previously worked with Arslanian on their short film “Underdog” (“Charbon”), which was exhibited at Unifrance’s MyFrenchFilmFestival in January alongside Arslanian and Ed Waguette. Desenne primarily focused on the short’s story development for this production.
At the Wrong Films festival, “Bolero” by French filmmaker Nans Laborde-Jourdáa received the Queer Palm award, while Morad Mostafa’s “I Promise You Paradise” was awarded the Nikon Discovery Prize at the Cannes Festival.
Aloui was born with a French mother and a Moroccan father; for some years of her life, she grew up in China. Currently, Mostafa, a 35-year-old Egyptian filmmaker, is working on his first full-length film, “Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore,” at the Cinéfondation Residency in Paris, which is part of the Cannes Film Festival.
In Paris resides the up-and-coming French-Lebanese filmmaker Arslanian, who brings a fresh and unique cultural viewpoint to the thriller genre with Wrong Films. As EbMaster noted in their glowing review of “Animalia,” Arslanian skillfully offers a distinctly different take on classic thriller themes.
At the January edition of Unifrance’s MyFrenchFilmFestival, Arslanian presented his newest short film, “Underdog” (“Charbon”), which was screened. This thought-provoking piece follows a cycle delivery worker as he battles against time on a single night to earn enough money for his rent and prevent eviction. During the film’s presentation at the 2024 Unifrance MyFrenchFilmFestival, Arslanian described it as a “social thriller.”
In the festival program notes for Krakow Film Festival in 2024, it was mentioned that “His films bring to the forefront characters from the outskirts, yearning for acceptance and striving to break free from their circumstances in pursuit of a more fulfilling life.” At this event, the short film “Underdog” had its world premiere, receiving accolades including a Silver Dragon award for best short and the Don Quixote Prize from the International Federation of Cine-Clubs. The notes further described it as “vibrant social cinema told with the excitement of an action movie.”
Manal’s mission to obtain medicine for her sister in Lebanon, currently enduring its most significant economic crisis, is a formidable challenge. Protests against a new government tax have ignited widespread unrest, and as Manal becomes more desperate, she finds herself drawn into a spiraling vortex of violence to succeed.)
In one instance during the 2019 Lebanese financial crisis, when the government shut down ATMs to prevent a bank rush, we observe Manal entering a Beirut bank armed with a pistol and a jerrycan. Her intent was to rob her own account as her savings had been frozen.
Mathilde Warisse of Wrong Films spoke with EbMaster, sharing that this modern thriller presents tough decisions we’re forced to face in desperation.
In 2020, Wrong Films came into existence. It’s an intriguing coincidence that among its latest recruited filmmakers are individuals hailing from France and Morocco, Egypt, and Lebanon.
I, too, share the sentiment of those commentators who view North Africa and the Middle East as dynamic areas rich in fresh talent and unique viewpoints. It’s truly gratifying when filmmakers from these regions capture our attention with their stories and perspectives. In an interview with EbMaster, I expressed my appreciation for this trend.
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2024-07-24 13:17