Cinema exposes rampant machismo in Arab communities

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report about films participating in the current Beirut International Film Festival.  Many of these films reflect the Arab meaning given to masculinity and femininity whilst several dissect the construct of Arab communities and their common problems.  The report focused on three movies.  The first is entitled “al Daleel” and is about a man who refuses to admit his sterility even if this would liberate him from his problem because this will strip him of his masculinity in the macho Algerian society.  The second film, “al Shallat” tells the story of a young man who used to ride his motorcycle in Tunis and cut women's bottoms with a blade.  His ghost still stirs fear amongst Tunisian women to this date.  According to the movie director, a woman, many young men who came to the casting wanted passionately to play this role.  The third movie entitled “More than 2 hours” talks about the predicament of a young woman in Iran who risks dying from hemorrhage because the law prevents the hospital from carrying out a surgery for her without the presence of her parents.  She simultaneously faces the danger of death should the doctors discover that she is not a virgin.
To be noted that the 14th edition of the Beirut International Film Festival kicked off last Tuesday and will go on until 9 October.

Source: Al-Akhbar 1 October 2014