Arzé
Arzé Film Poster
Poster featuring Diamand Abou Abboud
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Directed byMira Shaib
Written by
  • Louay Khraish
  • Faissal Sam Shaib
Produced by
  • Faissal Sam Shaib
  • Louay Khraish
CinematographyHeyjin Jun
Edited byHisham Saqr
Music byHany Adel
Running time
93 minutes
CountryLebanon

Arzé (Arabic: أرزة) is a 2023 Lebanese comedy drama directed by Mira Shaib in her feature directorial debut. The film was selected to premiere in the Official Competition of the 45th Cairo International Film Festival,[1] but the festival was canceled due to the Israel-Hamas War.[2] The film stars Diamand Abou Abboud, Betty Taoutel, and Bilal Al Hamwi.

Plot

Arzé, a single mother, is determined to buy her son a used scooter so he can help her deliver the mouth-watering pies she bakes, her only source of income. To make this happen, she steals and pawns her sister's bracelet–which may or may not have been a good idea.

But alas, the scooter is stolen! And when the police are useless–it's Lebanon after all–Arzé takes matters into her own hands and drags her reluctant son all over Beirut in search of the missing scooter.

Arzé and her son quickly find themselves embroiled in a long journey full of twists and turns as they navigate the sectarianism and chaos of Beirut. To blend in with each neighborhood they visit, Arzé gets creative and puts on a whole disguise. She's a chameleon, changing her accent, donning a hijab or a Christian cross, and even giving Kinan a new name. She'll do anything to find the scooter.

The quest is long and frustrating. As tensions rise and family secrets are revealed, finding the scooter is at stake and so is the unity of Arzé's family.

Cast

  • Diamand Abou Abboud as Arzé
  • Betty Taoutel as Layla
  • Bilal Al Hamwi as Kinan
  • Shaden Fakih as Dina
  • Hagop Der Ghougassian as Sevag
  • Junaid Zeineldine as Noor
  • Fouad Yammine as Nicolas
  • Fadi Abi Samra as Joseph
  • Tarek Tamim as Saadeddine
  • Elie Mitri as Junkyard Owner
  • Joyce Nasrallah as Odette
  • Saad Kadri as Ahmad
  • Ibrahim Ajami as Ali
  • Mounir Challita as Mandoor
  • Kathy Youness as Yasmine

Development

In 2018, Mira Shaib and Producer Zeina Badran were selected to Film Independent's Global Media Makers LA Residency where they developed the project.[3] In 2019, the film was among only six Arabic projects selected to the inaugural Red Sea Lodge,[4][5][6] which was in collaboration with the TorinoFilmLab.[7][8] The film, originally titled, I Am Arzé, was among the first recipients of the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation Production Fund.[9][10]

The script, by Louay Khraish and Faissal Sam Shaib, was an Official Finalist in the First Time Screenwriter Competition at the 2018 Amsterdam Film Festival Van Gogh Awards[11]

References

  1. ↑ Mustafa, DJ Kamal (4 October 2023). "45th Cairo Film Fest to feature 24 Egyptian and Arab films". Broadcast Pro. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (18 October 2023). "Cairo Film Festival Canceled Due to Israel-Hamas War". Variety. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Film Independent's Global Media Makers Program Expands to Include South Asian Talent". Hollywood Reporter. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (1 October 2019). "Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Festival Announces Projects in Development". Variety. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Nasr, Nahedd (4 October 2022). "Parting the Sea". Al Ahram English. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Melanie, Goodfellow (1 October 2019). "Saudi's Red Sea International Film Festival unveils debut lab selection". Screen Daily. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Hind Alfahhad's 'Sharshaf' wins $500,000 film production grant". Saudi Gazet. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "Saudi, Arab winners of $500k film production grants revealed". Arab News. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  9. ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (6 September 2021). "Red Sea International Film Festival unveils first recipients of $14m fund". Screen Daily. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Vivarelli, Nick. "Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival Reveals Grants For Upcoming Arab Films, Including Toronto-Bound 'Farha'". No. 6 Septembere 2021. Variety. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "2018 AMSTERDAM FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AWARDS". FilmFestivals.com. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
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