Cinema Nights: Saleeg and Abdo & Saneya

In the first short film, Saleeg, sixty-year-old Hajer is preparing Jeddah’s famous rice dish for a special dinner with her son. Needing vegetables, she rushes outside when she hears the Indian grocer’s bell, but neglects to cover the pot. She wrangles with the vegetable seller; then her son calls to say he isn’t coming. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the rice has fallen into the boiling water where it has expanded, overflowed, and is soon billowing through the house and out into the yard, carrying Hajer with it. At last, the neighbors see what is happening and rush to help, shoveling saleeg onto every available plate. After which, everyone being gathered, they join Hajer for a meal that turns out to be special after all.

Language: Arabic and Urdu
Subtitles: English

In the second short film, Abdo & Saneya, a wonderful reminder of the power of silent film, Omar Bakri’s film is shot without dialogue in dramatic black and white. Egyptian farmer Abdo and his wife Saniya are desperate for a child, which leads them on a daunting journey to New York City for infertility treatment. The treatment itself is intimidating, but the couple faces an additional hurdle: they don’t speak the language and are unfamiliar with the American way of life. This musical drama has all the magic and direct emotion of early cinema – laughter, tears, and love surge through it – but with very modern-day heroes in Abdo and Saniya. The Jeddah audience is sure to be captivated by this innovative take on a classic genre.

Language: Arabic
Subtitles: English

What will you learn?
The audience will get a chance to watch two of the short films displayed during the Red Sea Film Festival.

Who is it for?
This is for anyone interested in films.