The Good Boss
The International Spectacular section in the Red Sea International Film Festival features a collection of some of the year’s most moving narratives. Kaleem Aftab, director of the international programming of the festival, revealed that this year’s selection portrays some of the most dynamic and thought-provoking stories. “Filmmakers from across the world are sharing their stories, some deeply personal, others surreal and fantastic, but with all having a profound impact on the audiences viewing them,” said Aftab.
Created by renowned filmmakers around the world, all eight films in the category are Arab world premieres. Read on to know more about them.
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Ennio
Portraying the life of Ennio Morricone, the film covers the unraveling career of the 20th Century musician who is the brain behind the soundtracks of more than 500 films. Ennio was directed by the Academy Award-winner Giuseppe Tornatore, who has a long-established bond with the composer after creating the soundtrack to 13 films of his.
Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon
Narrating the story of a lady who escapes a mental asylum with superpowers, Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon is directed by Iranian American Ana Lily Amirpour. Shedding light on the lady’s struggles to make it on her own in New Orleans, the film stars Jeon Jong-Seo, Kate Hudson, Craig Robinson, and Ed Skrein, and had a world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.
The Lost Daughter
In a moving plot that evokes a sense of motherly instinct, the psychological drama focuses on a woman’s holiday prompted with memories of motherhood. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter stars Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, and Olivia Colman.
Sisters
Nothing feels more precious more than sisterly love, let alone three sisters on a mission to find their abducted brother. French-Algerian director Yamina Benguigui’s creation Sisters records the journey of siblings Zorah, Nohra, and Djamila, who decide to travel to Algeria to their dying father who abducted their brother, only to seize the opportunity to discover where he is.
Belfast
Belfast unfolds the story during the music and social uproar in the late 1960s in Northern Ireland rippled with feelings of love, loss, and joy in a boy’s childhood. Directed by Academy Award nominee Kenneth Branagh, the monochrome film is a tribute to his native city, and stars Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill, and Ciarán Hinds.
You Resemble Me
Revealing a cultural and intergenerational trauma on the screen, Egyptian American director Dina Amer and Omar Mullik deconstructed one of the darkest social issues of today in a narrative of love, family, and belonging. It begins with a young ‘Hasna’, who struggles to keep herself alive on the balcony ledge but decides against it, only to step down and join her sister in the room. The two are later separated on the streets of Paris, leading to Hasna’s struggles to find her identity.
The Color Room
Phoebe Dynevor’s first significant role since Bridgerton puts her in the shoes of ceramic artist Clarice Cliff. Based on a true story, the events develop into becoming one of the greatest Art Deco designers. Directed by Claire McCarthy, the 1920s period drama uncovers Cliff’s battles to succeed in a male-dominated society.
The Good Boss
Javier Bardem takes on a workplace dramedy in a slick blowout as the boss of a family-run factory for major retail companies for weighing vehicles. The collaboration with Spanish director Fernando León de Aranoa is set on the outskirts of a small town. Premiered at this year’s San Sebastian International Film Festival, the film made it as the Spanish entry for Best International Feature Film in the 94th Academy Awards.
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