It sounds paradoxical, but it’s often true that the more culturally precise a foreign language film is, the more universal its appeal becomes. This is the case with the charming but pointed “The Women’s Balcony.”
Category: Middle East
Emma Watson is ‘quietly stunned’ over Vanity Fair critics
The photo shoot was carried out by acclaimed fashion photographer Tim Walker and displayed Watson in an open white crocheted bolero jacket with no bra or shirt underneath. Discussing the wave of negativity that on Twitter after she posed in a sheer top with her breasts partially exposed for the magazine, the actress said that she was “confused” that critics declared the shoot “anti-feminist” and “hypocritical”.
Alabama Theater Nixes ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Remake Over Gay Character
… this move. “An online petition started Thursday created to send a strong message to Disney that children’s entertainment is no place to promote a harmful sexual political agenda”, had exceeded its initial goal of 50,000 signatures by Friday …
Theater review: ‘My Name Is Rachel Corrie’
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Iranians celebrate 2nd Oscars win for Farhadi
Hundreds of Iranians gathered Friday at Tehran Cinema Museum to celebrate Asghar Farhadi’s recent Academy Awards win for best foreign language film. In his short speech, Farhadi said the film was not a pre-planned project but, he added, ” was not supposed to be made at all.
Banksy’s art in West Bank hotel with ‘view to the wall’
The owner of a guest house packed with the elusive artist Banksy’s work has opened the doors of his West Bank establishments to the media, showcasing its unique “worst view in the world.”
‘Arab Idol’ talent show win sends Palestinians into raptures
Palestinian singer Yaqoub Shaheen , winner of Arab Idol season 4, performs as he stands next to Palestinian contestant singer Ameer Dandan and Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf, winner of the second season of Arab Idol, during the final episode of Arab Idol season 4, in Zouk Mosbeh area, north of Beirut, Lebanon February 25, 2017. Yemeni Contestant Ammar Mohamad, Palestinian contestants Yaqoub Shaheen and Ameer Dandan perform on stage during the final contest episode of the Arab Idol, before the announcement of the winner in Zouk Mosbeh area, north of Beirut, Lebanon February 25, 2017.
Syrian who worked on nominated film can’t attend Oscars
This image released by Netflix shows a scene from the documentary “White Helmets.” The 40-minute Netflix documentary, is nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Short.
Donald Trump gets – Eretz Nehederet’ treatment
TAL FRIEDMAN portrays Donald Trump, while Shani Cohen plays his wife, Melania, in the popular satirical-sketch series ‘Eretz Nehederet.’ . Israel’s premiere satirical sketch comedy program, Eretz Nehederet , started its 14th season with a bang on Monday night, but ultimately strung along viewers by dangling an upcoming Donald Trump sketch in front of them which ended up being a disappointment.
Lindsay Lohan Claims She Was – Racially Profiled’ Over…
Lindsay Lohan told “Good Morning Britain” on Tuesday that she was “racially profiled” while wearing a headscarf at London’s Heathrow Airport, according to the Associated Press . The actress claimed she was stopped while traveling to New York.
The Perils of Trump Addiction
Not long after the Lebanese civil war ended more than a quarter of a century ago, I found my landlord in a depressed mood. He had suffered in the fifteen years of war – part of his family had been “cleansed” from their home in east Beirut – but peace had returned to the ruins of the city, the Mediterranean sloshed opposite our apartment block and in front of the little candy store he ran on the Corniche.
UN briefly pauses aid to Iraq’s Mosul amid security concerns
A worker carried aid supplied at a camp for people displaced by fighting between security forces and Islamic State militants east of Mosul, Iraq, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. The United Nations says they are temporarily pausing aid operations to neighborhoods in eastern Mosul retaken from the Islamic State group for security reasons as IS insurgent and counter attacks continue to inflict heavy civilian casualties there.
Russian drone footage show wide damage at Syria’s Palmyra
This photo combo, made from footage taken from the Russian Defense Ministry official website, purports to show the Roman-era amphitheater on June 6, 2016, left, and on Feb. 5, 2017, right, in Palmyra, Syria. Russia’s defense ministry has released drone footage showing new destruction in Syria’s historic town of Palmyra, which was recently recaptured by the Islamic State group, and warned that the militants could be planning the further demolition of antiquities.
With Trumpa s Travel Ban on Hold, Iraqi Family Arrives in Nashville in 2nd Attempt to Reach US
Iraqi citizen Fuad Sharef Suleman and his family landed in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday night to start a new life, more than a week after they were barred from entering the United States because of their country of origin. It had taken Suleman more than two years to receive U.S. immigrant visas for him, his wife and three children.
The Latest: Travelers under Trump ban head to US via Beirut
The Latest on the reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries : Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting that airlines operating out of Beirut international airport have begun allowing residents of the seven majority Muslim countries affected by President Donald Trump’s travel ban to board flights heading to the United States. The U.S. State Department reinstated visas Saturday of those travelers affected by Trump’s executive order after a federal judge in Seattle blocked the ban.
The Latest: Travelers under Trump ban head to US via Beirut
The Latest on the reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries : Lebanon’s National News Agency is reporting that airlines operating out of Beirut international airport have begun allowing residents of the seven majority Muslim countries affected by President Donald Trump’s travel ban to board flights heading to the United States. The U.S. State Department reinstated visas Saturday of those travelers affected by Trump’s executive order after a federal judge in Seattle blocked the ban.
Many Syrians are skeptical of peace talks. Herea s why.
From left: Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sedat Onal; Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov; as Russia’s special envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev; U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura; and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaber Ansari. Last week, Syrian opposition and regime leaders negotiated the continuation of a tentative cease-fire in Astana, Kazakhstan, with pledged support from Russia, Iran and Turkey.
The Salesman
Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Feature for his 2011 film A Separation , and he’s been nominated again for his latest film, The Salesman .
A Syrian woman flew to the U.S. to see her hospitalized mother. She was forced to turn around.
Sahar Algonaimi was planning to stay in the United States for only one week. Her 76-year-old mother was undergoing surgery.
Muslim ban would prevent nominee from attending Oscars
In an undated handout photo, Taraneh Alidoosti and Shahab Hosseini in Asghar Farhadi’s “The Salesman.” The Iranian actors play husband-and-wife members of a theater company engaged in a production of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.”
Diplomatic debut: Trump makes uneven entry onto world stage
The president shifted a jam-packed schedule Friday to make room for an hourlong phone call with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who had abruptly snubbed the new president by canceling a visit. Trump’s team had appeared to respond by threatening a hefty border tax on Mexican imports.
Stumbleupon
Given the ongoing debate surrounding the negotiations in Switzerland on security, there must have been a rather big elephant in the room at the Presidential Palace. And no, that’s Archbishop Chrysostomos II to the left…. The ‘culprit’ Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias got a lot of stick from sections of the Cypriot and foreign press over his attitude during the Conference on Cyprus in Geneva last week.
The ‘culprit’ Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias got a lot of stick from sections of the Cypriot and foreign press over his attitude during the Conference on Cyprus in Geneva last week. Reading the relevant reports, one could easily infer the UN, British and Cypriot delegates were livid with Kotzias’ positions.
Syria: IS destroys part of Roman theater in Palmyra
This Dec. 11, 2016, file image made from militant video posted online by the Aamaq News Agency, a media arm of the Islamic State group, purports to show a general view of the ancient ruins of the city of Palmyra, in Homs province, Syria. Islamic State group militant destroyed a landmark ancient Roman monument and parts of the amphitheater in Syria’s historic town of Palmyra, the Syrian government and opposition monitoring groups said Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
British man dies at 2022 World Cup stadium site in Qatar
Organizers of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar say a British man has died working at a stadium which will be a venue f… Crammed into a dome with one bathroom, six scientists will spend eight months munching on mostly freeze-dried foods and have only their small sleeping quarters to retreat to for solace Crammed into a dome with one bathroom, six scientists will spend eight months munching on mostly freeze-dried foods and have only their small sleeping quarters to retreat to for solace The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on the plane that crashed into Lake Erie last month, killing all six people on board The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on the plane that crashed into Lake Erie last month, killing all six people on board Protesters and supporters of President-elect Donald Trump clashed outside a pro-Trump … (more)
Obama doesn’t regret ‘red line’ over Syria conflict
US President Barack Obama says he does not regret his speech drawing a “red line” over Syria’s use of chemical weapons, a phrase critics say symbolizes the US failure to act over the country’s conflict. Obama made the comment in 2012 about possible US military action in Syria, saying “a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized.”
Obama doesn’t regret ‘red line’ over Syria conflict
US President Barack Obama says he does not regret his speech drawing a “red line” over Syria’s use of chemical weapons, a phrase critics say symbolizes the US failure to act over the country’s conflict. Obama made the comment in 2012 about possible US military action in Syria, saying “a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized.”
Lebanese actress’s journey from Beirut to New York to Hollywood
Surviving in the world of show business can be grueling as actors compete for daily parts, but rising Lebanese star Sarah Himadeh said she won’t let the cutthroat Hollywood world discourage her. Despite the pressure and uncertainty of making it in the industry, Himadeh says her passion didn’t only push her to change careers but also move to a new country.
Kal Penn, Actor And Former Obama Official, Donates MasterChef Winnings To UNRWA
… – Political Vindication Radio “He can turn a very serious and possibly depressing piece of news and make it entertainment. That is talent, and that is why I love to read his blog.” – Culture For All “This guy is so funny but that’s only because …
Five International TV Series That Deserve Your Couch Time
Once upon a time, in the dark ages of not-that-long-ago, foreign television was a mysterious land beyond our reach.
A video capture shows the gunman entering the Reina
The Islamic State took credit for the attack during the New Year’s celebration that left 39 dead and 69 injured, Turkish media reported. Islamic State takes credit for New Year’s attack at Istanbul nightclub The Islamic State took credit for the attack during the New Year’s celebration that left 39 dead and 69 injured, Turkish media reported.
The Latest: Delaware businessman wounded in Turkey attack
The State Department has confirmed that a Delaware businessman originally from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, was one of nearly 70 people wounded during an attack on a New Year’s Eve celebration in Istanbul. WCAU-TV reports that the brother of William Jacob Raak says the 35-year-old was visiting friends in Istanbul.
Turkey aims to establish Syria truce before new year, FM says
PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey aims to establish a ceasefire in Syria before the new year, and will act together with Russia as a guarantor of the deal, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday, December 29, Reuters reports. In an interview with broadcaster AHaber, Cavusoglu also said all foreign fighter groups in Syria – including Hezbollah – need to leave the country.
“How I Met Your Mother” Star Josh Radnor Is Happy to Have Met Meditation
Authorities say a toddler in foster care has died after suffering brain and internal injuries at a west Lincoln home. Lincoln Officer Katie Flood said Wedne… A missing woman and her great-granddaughter have been found alive in Virginia, according to state police.
The Latest: Israeli minister slam’s Kerry’s upcoming speech
In this Nov. 24, 2015 file photo, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry waves as he boards the plane on departure from Israel after meetings in Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah. A senior leader of a Jewish settlement council is calling U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry “a stain on American foreign policy” and “ignorant of the issues.”
Ap Photos: a selection of pictures from the past week
Firefighters look at a toppled Christmas tree after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market and killed several people in Berlin, Germany, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. Mevlut Mert Altintas, an off-duty police officer, shouts after shooting Andrei Karlov, right, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, at an art gallery in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016.
Top 10 things to do
In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who step up to do extraordinary things.