Film: Cairo Time
Cast includes: Patricia Clarkson (Whatever Works), Alexander Siddig (Syriana)
Writer/Director: Ruba Nadda (Black September)
Genre: Drama/Romance (2009)
In brief: She’s upset that Mark’s not at the airport to meet her. Instead, she’s greeted by a sign, showing her name… “Miss Juliette.” The man holding the sign, Tareq, introduces himself… and she remembers that her husband use to talk about him... a colleague from the UN. These days, Mark works for the embassy setting up refugee camps. And Tareq owns a coffee café in Cairo. Juliette and Mark were supposed to meet for a vacation in Cairo. After all these years, Juliette has finally taken some time off from her busy job at Vou Magazine, and come to the Middle East to spend time in Mark’s world. As they leave the airport, Tareq runs into Yasmeen. She’s a new widow, and it’s obvious that she and Tareq have a history… which Yasmeen would very much like to rekindle. And why not… Tareq is a good-looking man, Juliette notices.
After a few days stuck in the hotel, Juliette decides to venture out. But it’s not easy for a western woman to explore Cairo alone… especially with all the men who crowd her. She goes to the only safe place she can think of… Tareq’s café. Mark had “warned me about being on the streets alone.” Tareq graciously agrees to spend the rest of the day with Juliette. The one place that’s off limits is the Pyramids… “Mark and I are planning to see them together.” But after a magical day, Juliette is again back to being cooped up and worrying about Mark. Every time she ventures out on her own, she’s prone to getting into some kind of trouble. She doesn’t want to impose on Tareq, and he’s far too considerate to let harm come to a colleague’s wife. Juliette tells Tareq that she wants to “explore.” While Cairo has many dangers, there’s much in Cairo to fall in love with… which Juliette gradually discovers.
The footage of Cairo is magical… as is the music. Juliette becomes our eyes and ears, exploring the magnificent parts, as well as, the disturbing parts of this jewel on the Nile. It’s not hard to guess that Tareq and Juliette will develop a romantic attachment, but it’s not the lusty, reckless affair we’re used to seeing on the screen. It’s a subtle seduction… more than a love triangle, it’s a love quadrangle… with Cairo being the forth. The filmmakers want us to savor this seduction, rather than gobbling it up. The style is gentle and ethereal… and if you think that translates into slow… this wouldn’t be your kind of movie. I found myself not wanting it to end. At one point, Tareq tells Juliette about a saying, “Once you’ve drunk the water of the Nile, you’ll always come back.” I’m ready for an encore.
3 popped kernels
I loved being seduced by Cairo, and the production was beautiful
Popcorn Profile
Primary Audience: Grown-ups
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Art house
Mood: Both upbeat and somber
Tempo: In no hurry
Visual Style: Nicely varnished realism
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Thought provoking
