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Bridges to the World International Film Festival Al-mowaten [The Citizen] (2013) 
Tuesday, March 02, 2021, 07:00pm
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WAE 2021 International 1 Film Festival Flyer

In order to attend the 2021 Bridges to the World International Film Festival, attendees will need to follow the Zoom link below and provide a valid name and e-mail address to attend. Zoom Webinars require both a valid name and e-mail address for security purposes.

ZOOM LINK:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83360293896?pwd=dCtRbTB3RENBNzBxanA2NFFCV3pRZz09

or

https://tinyurl.com/yydz8qv3

If prompted for a passcode, use the code “Bridges.” WEBINAR ID: 833 6029 3896
PASSCODE: Bridges

March 2, 2021

EGYPT

Al-mowaten [The Citizen] (2013) Written, Directed, and Co-written by:

Sam Kadi
Running Time: 100 minutes

Introduced by:
• Dr. Mohamed Hamza, Cultural Counselor and Director, Educational and Cultural Bureau

• Sam Kadi, Producer and Director

This is not an “Egyptian Film,” per se, but an independent American film that foregrounds an important challenge faced by Arab immigrants (and all immigrants): How to access and live the American Dream in a society that is suspicious of or feels threatened by you. Imagine how this challenge is amplified if you happen to arrive in New York City one day before the 9/11 terrorist attack. You learn that innocence is not a defense against xenophobia.Ibrahim Jarrah (played by the well-known and award-winning Egyptian actor Khaled Nabawy) enters the United States as a lucky winner of the green card lottery. A skilled auto mechanic and car salesman, he plans to gain American citizenship and open his own business. A miscommunication with his cousin leads Ibrahim to fabricate an excuse about where he will stay; an excuse that later creates a significant problem. His life in New York proves to be quite a roller coaster — he befriends a young American woman, is arrested without cause and held at an undisclosed location for six months, finds a job, befriends a homeless man who later betrays him, begins to fall in love with a Lebanese woman he meets at an English language class, defends a Jewish man from a vicious attack, becomes a media hero, and defends himself against an unjust deportation order. Through every setback and humiliation, Ibrahim maintains his resolve to become a citizen. His credo — “to reach your dreams, plant your good deeds” — foreshadows the conclusion of the film and the realization of his goal.

Sam Kadi is an award-winning filmmaker. His documentary Little Gandhi (2016) about murdered peace activist Ghiath Matar was selected as the Syrian entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2017 Academy Awards and The Citizen has received international acclaim. Effectively using some of the conventions of melodrama (concerns of the family, a focus on morality and ethics, the interplay of coincidence and fate, an unexpected threat from an external source, and a strong appeal to emotions), Kadi creates a powerfully moving film that also corrects Arab stereotypes and advocates for social justice. Kadi gave a TED Talk in 2018 about the need to tell the stories of the oppressed and to lend voices to the unheard as a means to change lives, opinions, and society. See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMkzQ47Fwl0

The Citizen’s ensemble cast (featuring Carey Elwse, William Atherton, Rizwan Manji, Brian Edward Marable, and Agnes Bruckner) effectively portrays believable New York City characters caught up in the insecurities of urban life during a crisis. The standout performance belongs to Khaled Nabawy. He creates a fully rounded and complex Ibrahim, reacting to everything he experiences with a combination of wonder, disbelief, and determination. Through his perseverance, Ibrahim becomes a true hero in every sense of the word.

You can watch a trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhRCfX1pU5U

                            Egypt

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