Ghurbal

Ghurbal 2005

1

This film examines the Egyptian rural craft of making a sieve called ghurbal (from the Arabic ghurbal meaning “to winnow” which is used to both “winnow” babies on their seventh day of life and to winnow grains for making ceremonial dishes, particularly kouskousi. Embedded in this material culture artifact are layered meanings of creative regeneration of the cosmic and human worlds. We visually follow the material process from tree log cutting to making the tara (ghurbal frame), to ghurbal crafting, through the voice and image of two key persons: Na’ima, the craftswoman and owner of the frame shop, and Hoksha, the rural ghurbal craftsman. The ethnographer/filmmaker engages them to speak and we are drawn into their lives by their stories as we view self-confident mastery of their craft. While Hoksha relates how he has kept this child from his father, we see his son next to him making a modern flour sieve, having never learned the family tradition.

2005

Far From Al Andalus

Far From Al Andalus 2020

7.00

Late 10th century. A traveler crosses the mountains, far from his home in Cordoba, capital of the prosperous Caliphate of Al-Andalus. He sings to his beloved. He is followed by a bird of prey. He meets a mischievous shepherd for whom he plays the oud. But the shepherd is most interested in his flute

2020

mémoires de scénes

mémoires de scénes 1970

1

We are at the beginning of the sad period of violence that Algeria experienced in the 1990s. In a town in the interior of the country, Azzedine, a journalist by profession, is preparing an adaptation of Molière's play Tartuffe for the municipal theater. The newly elected mayor tries to stop him. Azzedine and his companions stick together and ignore the threat hanging over them. Will they succeed in fulfilling their dream?

1970

Amira's Mother

Amira's Mother 2013

1

A woman living in downtown Cairo tries to support her family by selling potato chips. Known as "Potatoes lady" she starts cooking from early morning until late at night in the city that never sleeps.

2013