World Picks from the Editors: Oct 28 – Nov 10
The editors of The Markaz Review recommend several world events and books.
Arab cinema
Sofia Alaoui’s Animalia is a Supernatural Thriller Shot in Morocco
As she nears the end of her pregnancy, Itto and her in-laws find their lives turned upside down by a supernatural event.
Hanging Gardens and the New Iraqi Cinema Scene
Laura Silvia Battaglia, on the set of Hanging Gardens, explores the burgeoning Iraqi film scene in Baghdad.
Post-Revolution, Arab Cinema is Producing Dystopic Narratives
Viola Shafik has seen several post-thawra Arab features that convey a bleak and dystopian vision of the present.
Two Women Artists Dialogue with Berlin and the Biennale
Viola Shafik profiles Jihan El-Tahiri and Myriam El Haïk, two Arab artists in the 2022 Berlin Biennale.
Beirut Drag Queens Lead the Way for Arab LGBTQ+ Visibility
Moustafa Daly talks to leaders in Lebanon’s creative and LBGTQ community about the drag queen scene.
Being Jewish and Muslim Together: Remembering Our Legacy
Joyce Zonana reviews two recent titles that reveal Jewish-Muslim connections and communities of the Arab world.
Muhammad Malas, Syria’s Auteur, is the subject of a Film Biography
Rana Asfour reviews a documentary by Nezar Andary on the Syrian auteur filmmaker, Muhammad Malas.