As a positive step towards introducing Egyptian audiences to contemporary Palestinian cinema, Zawya cinema in Cairo will host the screening of Muayad Alayan’s Palestinian film Love, Theft and Other Entanglements on 14 August at 7.30pm. The movie was shot in black and white and was screened at 12 international film festivals, attracting much praise and positive criticism from audiences and critics around the globe.
(Photo Handout to DNE)
The movie tells the story of Mousa, a Palestinian car thief who gets into trouble after stealing a car that has a kidnapped Israeli soldier in its trunk. Although he thought it would be a normal theft that would enable him to get enough money to buy a visa and escape the refugee camp where he lives, his whole plan was turned upside down.
According to the movie’s official website, Muayad Alayan is a Palestinian film director and cinematographer who returned to Palestine after completing his studies in San Francisco. He sought to portray the Palestinian community in film and tell its stories. He directed a number of successful movies, including the short film Lesh Sabreen in 2009, the short film Mute in 2010, and the documentary Sacred Stones in 2012.
The movie strays from traditional portrayals of Palestinian characters in movies. He doesn’t portray the leading character as a national ideal or victim of the occupation. He is an imperfect human being with many dislikeable traits just like all of us.
