Celebrating Arab Cinema With Netflix: 10 Arabic Classics To Watch This Holiday Season
Film buffs will certainly rejoice over the award-winning flick the streaming platform has just added to its repertoire…
For those of you looking to watch some iconic Arab films, you’re in for a treat…
Netflix has recently launched a new collection of films; Celebrating Arab Cinema showcases 58 iconic Arab films that have been globally recognised at award ceremonies – including the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs, Cannes and Venice.
The collection includes films from renowned filmmakers such as Nadine Labaki, Annemarie Jacir, Elia Suleiman, Hany Abu-Assad and Ziad Doueiri, as well as many recognizable titles.
Here, Bazaar Arabia rounds up 10 of our favourites we can’t wait to rewatch this holiday season.
Caramel
This Cannes-nominated ensemble is the feature directorial debut of the award-winning Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, who also stars in the film. This Lebanese romantic comedy focuses on the daily lives of a group of Lebanese women at a hairdresser in the center of Beirut. Each has a unique story to share whilst challenging the taboos of their society.
It Must Be Heaven
Released in 2020, this comedy sees filmmaker Elia Suleiman travel to Paris and New York, finding unexpected similarities to his homeland of Palestine on his journey.
3000 Nights
Based on real events this drama, filmed by Palestinian director Mai Masri, won the Jury Prize at the 2016 International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights. The harrowing story follows a Palestinian newlywed who is wrongly accused and imprisoned only to soon discover she’s pregnant.
Lift Like A Girl
Recently released, this thrilling Egyptian documentary is the zero to hero sporting tale audiences around the world love to watch. An Egyptian weightlifter in her teens rises, with the support of her coach, to compete at the championship level despite humble beginnings at a basic training camp.
For Sama
Released in 2019, For Sama won the BAFTA award for Best Documentary and is also an Academy Award nominee. The emotional documentary shares the journey of a young mother considering whether to flee with her young daughter or stay and fight for freedom during the uprising in Syria.
Scales
Saudi director Shahad Ameen’s feature debut was the winner of the Verona Film Club award at the 2019 Venice Film Festival. Starring Ashraf Barhom, Basima Hajjar and Fatima Al Taei, the film is set in a fishing village following a young girl trying to put an end to old superstitions.
The Present
Released in 2020, this BAFTA-winning drama and Oscar-nominated short film is Palestinian-British filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s directorial debut. The story is set in the West Bank, where a father sets out to buy his wife a present but it proves to be a long challenge for him and his daughter due to the harrowing checkpoint.
White Helmets
This powerful documentary follows a team of first responders as they attempt to rescue victims from the rubble caused by the daily airstrikes in war-torn Syria. The 2016 release won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject.
Ghost Hunting
This political documentary won the first-ever Silver Bear award for best original documentary at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival. Palestinian director Raed Andoni focuses on a group of Palestinian men reliving the trauma of being detained in an interrogation center in Israel.
Until the End of Time
Emotional and romantic, Until the End of Time tells the story of a grieving widow who begins planning her own funeral, but is reminded of life’s simple pleasures after a chance encounter.
To view the full collection visit Netflix.com
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