A director as ‘auteur’ makes the film that she feels in her heart/soul not the film that people may want to see or that distributors think will draw an audience. Such is the dilemma that good independent filmmakers face: Stay true to your vision or compromise to make a sale. Ruba Nadda is a director that believes you must be passionate about your film and stay true to your vision. Two weeks before she was to go to Cairo to film Cairo Time her funding fell apart. Working with her producer, Daniel Iron (Away From Her), they managed somehow to find the money, partially by foregoing their up-front salaries, and Ruba was off to Cairo 48 hours later.She had gotten uber-actress Patricia Clarkson to accept the lead role. Patricia’s agent had given her the script with the comment “You’ve got to do this”. Patricia read the script and knew she was destined to play this part. Ruba flew to New York to meet Patricia and after a three hour lunch meeting the kindred spirits were ready to go. Ruba had written the male lead for Brit actor Alexander Siddig (Deep Space Nine, Syriana) and he quickly came on board as well.
Daniel Iron has stated that Ruba knows everyone which helped in obtaining funding. She has made sixteen films, all but two (Sabah and Cairo Time) were short films and Sabah had done very well both domestically and internationally. Her international sensibilities resulted in incredible exposure to both her films and her short stories though she remains much lesser known in Canada. Cairo Time will deservedly change this, especially after winning the best Canadian feature at TIFF 2009.
Juliette (Patrcia Clarkson) is a Canadian magazine editor who arrives in Cairo for a vacation with her long-time husband, a UN official working in Gaza. Delayed, her husband asks his friend—a handsome Egyptian named Tareq (Alexander Siddig)—to watch over Juliette. Juliette finds herself being affected not only by this exotic city but also by Tareq.
The cinematography by long-time Nadda collaborator Luc Montpellier is stunning capturing scenes in the streets of Cairo and in the surrounding regions with grace and majesty. The music by Irish composer Niall Byrne combines beautiful piano melodies and lively Arab songs to accentuate both the simple and active moments in the film.
Cairo Time opened in Canada on October 9th. We were fortunate to screen it in Ancaster Ontario, just before this opening, to an audience of 672. Ruba attended with her sister (actress and assistant director Fadia) and Wendy Blushke from the TIFF film circuit. Ruba provided both screenings with informative q&a’s and by the end the audience was thrilled to have seen a masterful film and listened to such a passionate, accomplished director. Do watch the clips that follow and I'm sure you'll agree.
Exclusive link to behind the scenes footage on the making of Cairo Time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK8uueeqqMI
Wonderful interview with Ruba, Patricia and Alexander in three parts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT36gawbrdo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrGX95mjAyY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDM7yweED7Q&feature=related
as well as superb individual interviews at the Toronto International Film Festival.
www.tribute.ca/interviews/
www.tribute.ca/interviews/
www.tribute.ca/interviews/
Official Website and Trailer
http://www.cairotime.ca/html/trailer/
Julian D.
Just watched the video on the behind the scenes footage. Wonderful. Makes you appreciate Ruba Nadda and her film even more.
ReplyDeleteDepartures and Cairo Time were two of the most "elegant" films to be screened this year. Frames of magnificent magic and beauty. Takes the breath away. Looking forward to another great year.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Against a powerfully filmed harsh and beautiful landscape and, for the western viewer, an exotic urban setting, the film shows in a soft and gentle way how people from two different cultures can encounter, respect and sensitively respond to one another.
ReplyDeleteThank you for getting us such a wonderful movie. Cairo Time was excellent and I felt that I had a wonderful tour of the beautiful city and surrounding area. I also enjoyed listening to Ruba talk and answer some questions.......an added treat for sure. Thank you for having her come along with her sister Fadia and Wendy. I really enjoyed the music.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful evening! Move over Hollywood. Independent film directors are doing life, death, romance, weddings and much more waaaaaaaay better. That was the sexiest movie I have seen in a long time. I think you are absolutely right that Ruba is going to be a brilliant director. Can't wait to see her next movie. Hope you can get it. Also love getting to meet the people behind AFF like Wendy and seeing those who make it such a successful evening.
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