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Arab News
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Book Review: ‘America's View of the East, Cinematically' by Abdulmohsen Al-Mutairi
Saudi journalist, filmmaker and cultural commentator Abdulmohsen Al-Mutairi launched his long-anticipated book — 'America's View of the East, Cinematically' — at last month's Saudi Film Festival. Cementing his reputation as a vital voice at the intersection of cinema and Arab identity, the book is a natural progression from his award-winning documentary, 'Memories From The North,' tackling Western portrayals of the East with the same precision, intellect and emotional clarity. Al-Mutairi drew wide attention for his documentary, which offered a poetic look at the Gulf War of 1990-91 and was named best short documentary at the 2022 festival. 'The documentary looks to me like a chapter in a book, because both memories and the war look like chapters to us. To me, the war is a timeline, there is a beginning, middle and an end,' Al-Mutairi told Arab News at the time. 'America's View of the East, Cinematically' continues that mission, serving as both critique and chronicle of how Arab and Eastern identities have long been distorted by the cinematic lens of the West. 'This encyclopedia will be a building block added to what the Saudi Film Festival has started since its launch in 2008 and an effective tributary in the path of Saudi cinema, reinforcing what the festival organizers believe in and what they seek to achieve by emphasizing that the film industry must be accompanied by a knowledge industry directed at those working in the local and Arab cinema field,' according to its introduction. More than critique, the book offers a kind of cinematic reclamation.
The National
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Kuwaiti cinema needs to earn the viewer's trust, says director Mohammad Almujaibel
In 1972, Kuwait became the first country in the Gulf region to produce a feature film. The Cruel Sea by Khalid Al Siddiq was a drama about the dangers of pearl diving and the toll it took on families in Kuwait. The film was the country's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 45th Academy Awards but did not make the shortlist of nominees. Despite having started the region's cinematic journey, Kuwait has since lagged behind others in film production, instead focusing more on television series, where it has dominated for years. Mohammad Almujaibel, a filmmaker from Kuwait, is determined to change that and help grow the country's film industry. His crime thriller Session Adjourned was screened at the Saudi Film Festival in Dhahran in April. The film stars a number of familiar faces, including Khaled Al Buraiki, Jassem Al Nabha, Hind Al Balushi, Abdullah Al Turkmany and Ali Al Shashtari – all established names in Kuwaiti television. It also features fresh faces, including Malak Abu Zaid, Mustafa Mahmoud, Mohammed Al Harbi – talents Almujaibel was intent on showcasing. 'The stars people want to see in movies aren't necessarily the same ones they know from TV,' he tells The National. 'Even from a marketing perspective, audiences love seeing new faces on the big screen.' A huge pool of acting talent exists in Kuwait, he adds, but they just have to be given a chance to appear in films. 'Our role is to seek them out. We believe in moving away from the traditional model of choosing a star based on their name, fan base or number of followers. In the end, it's the substance that matters.' Session Adjourned follows a lawyer who becomes embroiled in taking down a gang of weapons smugglers. After his son is killed, the lawyer takes his own life. But soon afterwards, the people who threatened him are mysteriously killed one by one, with the killer leaving a scorpion pendant at each scene. An established film industry does not exist in Kuwait yet, but Almujaibel hopes to see it achieved. 'We are trying to be part of the mechanism that gets it started. The biggest challenge now is how to build an audience that follows Kuwaiti films,' he says. 'How do you set the right foundations so you can say, one day, that the next generation will grow up following and supporting Kuwaiti cinema?' Kuwaiti films have created stereotypes about content from the country, Almujaibel says. It pained him some viewers of Session Adjourned at the festival approached him to say they expected a Kuwaiti film to be full of jokes and witty comments and were surprised at how serious it was. 'There's now a certain reputation, one that neither I nor my hardworking colleagues are responsible for,' he says. 'Some people try to make us carry that burden, but unfortunately, a few films created a general negative image or a bad reputation. 'On my own, I won't be able to do it, but I believe in the principle: 'It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.'' Kuwaiti filmmakers, including himself, need to win the trust of the viewer, so that after watching multiple films, they can follow a director or a writer from the country and have faith that their work will be good quality. 'That's the only solution. You take the initiative and you start. Yes, Kuwaiti cinema has a bad reputation now, OK, then you step up and offer something better.' In Session Adjourned, the story takes many turns and surprises audiences with its reveals. Almujaibel says he was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's films and wanted to keep the viewer guessing and on edge. He also says that the filmmakers created multiple endings to the film, to see which worked. He says it was risky to keep the story vague until the very end, but that he wanted the audience to feel rewarded at the finish. 'It's built around steering the viewer toward a certain expectation and then surprising them with a completely different outcome. Every time you think the story is over, there's more to it,' he says. 'The main goal was enjoyment, because the most basic requirement of cinema is entertainment.'
Leaders
01-05-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Japanese FM Fosters Partnerships with GCC's Secretary-General
Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi met with Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, according to Arab News. Iwaya noted that the GCC member states are not only important partners for Japan's energy security but also play an increasingly significant role in maintaining peace and stability amid the current turbulent regional and international situation. Meanwhile, Albudaiwi said that the relationship between Japan and the GCC countries are 'of strategic importance,' and that the GCC also hopes to further strengthen such ties. During the meeting, both officials welcomed the first round of negotiations on the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement, which resumed in December 2024. Japanese FM Fosters Partnerships with GCC's Secretary-General Furthermore, Iwaya and Albudaiwi agreed to collaborate in a vast array of fields such as politics and security, trade and investment. These agreements align with the Japan-GCC Action Plan adopted during the first Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in September 2023. Apart from this, they delved into the latest issues and developments in the Middle East and East Asia, including Gaza, Syria, Iran, the Red Sea, and East Asia. Related Topics: Japan's FM Visits Riyadh to Mark 70 Years of Diplomatic Ties Japanese Masakazu Explores Connections between Culture, Storytelling Saudi Film Festival Highlights Similarities between Saudi, Japanese Cinema Short link : Post Views: 20
Leaders
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Japanese Masakazu Explores Connections between Culture, Storytelling
The 11th Saudi Film Festival (SFF) has delved into the deep connections between culture and storytelling through an important panel by Japanese filmmaker Kaneko Masakazu, according to Arab News. Known for his cinematic passion for nature, memory, and myth, Masakazu explored how cultural identity shape cinematic storytelling. Moderated by cultural commentator Showg AlBarjas, the panel highlighted Masakazu's approach to filmmaking, notably in his third feature film 'River Returns' (2024). 'My work deals with the relationship between nature and humans as its central theme. It tells these stories in a poetic, almost mythical style,' he said. Interestingly, it narrates the story of a young boy who embarks on a dangerous journey to a seemingly haunted body of water. At this place, he hopes to alleviate the grief-stricken spirit that caused the devastating floods that hit the village. The film represents an exceptional blend between fantasy and drama. 'In the end, it becomes a transmission of culture, a passing down of folklore, all leading back to a shared emotional core. At the same time, I'm interested in how people respond — how a non-Japanese audience might engage with it,' he added. Masakazu mentioned that the boy's journey to the mountain pool is not just a physical journey, but a spiritual and emotional one, too. Related Topics: Saudi Film Festival Highlights Similarities between Saudi, Japanese Cinema Japanese Yamamura Holds Masterclass at Saudi Film Festival Manga Productions Boosts Japanese Collaboration for Riyadh Season Short link :
Leaders
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Saudi Film Festival Highlights Similarities between Saudi, Japanese Cinema
The 11th Saudi Film Festival has highlighted the cinematic parallels and connections between Japan and Saudi Arabia during a significant panel, according to Arab News. The panel witnessed the participation of US-based Japanese director and photographer Ken Ochiai, Oscar-nominated Japanese animator Koji Yamamura, and Ithra's Japanese-fluent Saudi film expert Majed Z. Samman. Moderated by Zohra Ait El-Jamar, head of Hayy Jameel Cinema, the discussion played a pivotal role in strengthening cultural exchange. Yamamura Saudi Film Festival Oscar-nominated Japanese director Koji Yamamura provided animation lovers with an exclusive masterclass about his career. Titled 'Giving Shape to Invisible Light,' the masterclass captured the attention of animation enthusiasts on Saturday, April 19. During the event, the Japanese director and filmmaker showcased his process and offered attendees fruitful insights into his unique approach. 'I'm very interested in Arabic culture. It is my first time in Saudi Arabia — I would like to sketch it. I think the landscape is very different from Japan,' Yamamura told Arab News after the session. Saudi Film Festival Meanwhile, Ochiai commended the Saudi film 'Hobal', highlighting the similarities between Japanese and Saudi cultural expressions in cinema. 'Less is good, if you can convey feelings through facial expressions,' Ochiai said. Apart from this, Samman stated that Saudi audiences have admired three main film categories for decades: 'Hollywood, Bollywood, and anime.' 'Saudis grew up on anime that was mostly dubbed into Arabic. If you're not into it (Japanese storytelling style), or if you're not going to research it, you might think it's stupid or cheesy — or, what's happening here? I think we need to bridge that gap between the culture and the visual language,' he said. Differences between Hollywood & Japanese Cinema Saudi Film Festival As for the differences between Hollywood and Japanese cinema, Ochiai noted that in Hollywood, several takes are shot, and editing comes later. However, Japanese filmmakers usually tend to edit in real time in order to minimize extra work. 'What we really need to focus on is the message of the film. How you learn is not on YouTube, but how you learn is from the past, like the movies from the past, because everything is coming from the top,' Ochiai added. Saudi Film Festival Importantly, the Japanese cinema adopts a deep minimalist sensibility that may sound confusing to foreign audiences. This is basically due to the fact that Japan's film industry has traditionally focused on domestic audience, without paying attention to background details that international audiences need to know. 'Art is a copy of something. So, if you copy the copy of the copy of the copy, it just gets watered down — the quality — so you should learn the history of the cinema so that you can also bring something new to the table,' he said. Related Topics: Japanese Yamamura Holds Masterclass at Saudi Film Festival Ithra: Saudi Film Festival to Feature Screenings, Workshops, Networking Forums 10th Saudi Film Festival Begins in Tehran Short link : Post Views: 5
