Latest news with #Kalthami
France 24
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
‘Night Courier': Saudi thriller captures flipside of Riyadh's leap forward
A rare foray into the Saudi nightlife, both swanky and seedy, Ali Kalthami's 'Night Courier' (' Mandoob ' in Arabic) centres on thirtysomething Fahad (Mohamad Aldokhei), a hapless call centre worker who takes on night shifts as a delivery man to pay his father's medical bills and support his divorced sister. Struggling to make ends meet, Fahad makes one bad choice after another, eventually ending up in the lucrative business of delivering alcohol to the well-heeled – only to fall foul of the gangs who typically run such operations. The consumption and possession of alcohol is strictly forbidden for Saudis – and punishable by fines, imprisonment and public flogging. On the black market, however, the sons of wealthy Saudi families can buy alcohol at hefty prices, reaching several hundred euros for a bottle of whisky. Such deliveries usher Fahad into the luxury world of Riyadh's partying elite, resulting in a dizzying and deeply disturbing encounter for the devout Muslim. Kalthami's camera exposes the brutal contrast between his clients' swanky penthouses and the shabby outer suburbs he lives in, capturing a vivid snapshot of a rapidly changing city. A city 'kind to nobody' In mining the themes of poverty, social disparity and alcohol trafficking, 'Night Courier' tackles head-on the social and economic realities of contemporary Saudi Arabia, an oil-rich Gulf state where fossil fuels are far from benefitting everyone. In 2023, some 13.6% of Saudis were living below the poverty line, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). 'The film describes situations I experienced myself,' says Kalthami, who grew up in a poor district of Riyadh, a sprawling and fast-changing metropolis he describes as 'kind to nobody'. At 41, the filmmaker is one of the faces of the cultural 'openness' touted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, who has identified cinema and the arts as means to overhaul the image of a country long associated with repressive social policies. Released domestically in late 2023, 'Night Courier' proved to be a commercial hit at home, topping the box office with more than 600,000 sales – an unprecedented achievement for a native film in a country that only lifted a ban on cinemas in 2017. A burgeoning film industry The movie's commercial and critical success caught the eye of the Netflix platform, which released it in the wider region last September. 'With about three to five feature films produced in a year, Saudi cinema is still in its infancy – but it's experiencing a boom,' says Maxime Bos, a former French diplomat who lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years, where he worked in the cultural field. 'There are many young directors, including female directors, and they have unexpected things to say,' he adds. Bos says the country's fledgling industry is 'in the process of structuring itself', with the emergence of writers, cinematographers, music composers and other jobs critical to the sector. Film workers enjoy the backing of the Saudi culture ministry, which supports training programmes, co-productions, creative residencies and the promotion of homegrown talent abroad. The industry can also rely on the growing clout of the Red Sea Film Festival, a star-studded showcase for Saudi film and a key instrument of the country's cultural soft power, whose eponymous foundation helped support 'Night Courier'. An outlet for youth The emergence of the Saudi film industry has gone hand in hand with its relative liberalisation, with the likes of Kalthami delving into societal issues that would previously have been taboo. 'By giving a green light to 'Night Courier', Saudi authorities want to prove that Saudi cinema and artistic life truly exist, and that they allow things to be shown,' says Karim Sader, a political analyst and consultant specialising in the Gulf countries. 'But it's not like the film is destroying the country's image,' Sader cautions. 'It tells the story of one man's marginality. It raises a social issue but does not undermine the government. It remains a controlled gesture of openness.' In a country where 60% of the population is under 30, Crown Prince bin Salman is banking on support from ultra-connected youth who are steeped in Western culture and yearning to shape their own narratives, adds the consultant. 'MBS has chosen to give them this 'privilege' of sorts, to have their own cinema, their own stories, their own outlet,' he says. 'The aim, perhaps, is also to ward off the frustrations that elsewhere boiled over into the Arab Spring uprisings.'
Arab News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi filmmaker Ali Kalthami, Kuwaiti photographer Abdullah Alshayji give iPhone photography workshop in Riyadh
RIYADH: Photography enthusiasts in Riyadh had the opportunity to refine their skills at an exclusive iPhone photography workshop on March 5 at Sima Creative Space. The event, organized in celebration of Ramadan, featured renowned Kuwaiti photographer Abdullah Alshayji and acclaimed Saudi film director Ali Kalthami, offering attendees a unique learning experience. A post shared by Abdullah Alshayji (@shaijieee) The workshop explored the advanced features of iPhone photography, equipping participants with innovative techniques to enhance their social media content. The event fostered a dynamic and collaborative environment, bringing together creatives eager to develop their visual storytelling skills. One of the highlights of the workshop was Kalthami's talk on his recent experience filming an iPhone advertisement. Speaking to Arab News, he recalled his initial surprise when tasked with directing the project using an iPhone 16 Pro instead of traditional camera equipment. Kalthami said: 'When I was assigned to create the iPhone ad I asked about the camera lenses, and they told me I would be using the iPhone 16 Pro instead.' He noted that the smartphone's compact size helped create a more relaxed atmosphere on set, adding: 'The actors acted naturally, which made the filming process enjoyable.' Kalthami — known for his film 'Mandoob' and as the co-founder of Telfaz11 — expressed enthusiasm for integrating iPhone technology into future projects, particularly those requiring a raw, immersive feel. He said: 'Using the iPhone is much more convenient than heavy camera equipment as it can be easily placed anywhere. Some projects benefit from an organic feel, which the iPhone can deliver.' A post shared by Abdullah Alshayji (@shaijieee) He also shared insights into the preproduction process, revealing that the ad was filmed in the desert during the golden hour to achieve a cinematic aesthetic. To maximize the capabilities of the iPhone, he incorporated professional filmmaking tools such as a large monitor and stabilizer, proving that smartphone technology can deliver high-quality results. Alshayji led hands-on demonstrations, showcasing the iPhone camera's features and sharing expert tips on capturing high-quality images. Using models and objects, he guided participants through techniques to elevate their photography skills, ensuring they left the workshop with practical knowledge to apply to their creative pursuits.
