Culture

New Arab cinema

A reality that calls for the surreal

Arab filmmakers have long adopted a social realist view of everday life. A new wave is now emerging, says Amin Farzanefar, marked by fantasy, uncanny symbols and repressed memories.
By Amin Farzanefar
"The Fruit of Fire" by Haneen Al-Sayegh

Fear and rebellion in the lives of Druze women

In her novel "The Fruit of Fire", a follow-up to the award winning "The Women's Charter", Haneen Al-Sayegh follows four generations of Druze women in rural Lebanon as they navigate religious authority, isolation, community and love.
By Najat Abed Alsamad
Palinale film festival Berlin

A politically engaged alternative

As the Berlinale faces renewed criticism over its handling of Palestine, a parallel festival, Palinale, returns for a second year with an expanded programme of international films, exhibitions and talks. Schayan Riaz shares impressions from its opening night.
By Schayan Riaz
Cairo's Ramadan lanterns

More than decoration

For lantern maker Mohamed Fawzi, the traditional Egyptian lantern, a familiar sight during Ramadan, is a key part of the country's cultural identity. But a flood of cheaper imports now threatens his craft.
By Mahmoud El Tabakh
Afghan cinema

An international coming of age

For the first time, the Berlinale film festival is opening with a film from Afghanistan: "No Good Men." Germany is home to many Afghan filmmakers who fled war and Taliban rule and whose work has long been overlooked.
By Martin Gerner
Islamic history

The critic of Sufism who became its archivist

In the 12th century, the scholar Ibn al-Jawzi wrote "Talbis Iblis" or "The Devil's Deception" to expose Sufism as heresy. Today, his text is read in two ways: as a critique and as a captivating snapshot of Sufi teachings.
By Abdulrahman Afif
"Archiving Gaza" anthology

A vivid record of life before the war

"Archiving Gaza in the Present" brings together essays on Gazan art, literature, music and archaeology. By preserving the memory of a once-vibrant cultural world while confronting the scale of its loss, it stands as one of the most important recent books on Gaza.
By Asmaa al-Ghoul
Films on Sudan

Stories from elsewhere

The war in Sudan has made displacement a fact of life for millions. Two new films, with Sudanese women at their core, reflect this reality through very different lenses. A review of "Aisha Can't Fly Away" and "Cotton Queen".
By Schayan Riaz
The murder of Ben Barka

New revelations from Israel's archives

The book "L'Affaire Ben Barka" reveals new details about the assassination of Moroccan opposition leader Mehdi Ben Barka. Long-secret Israeli documents show the role of Mossad in one of the 20th century's most mysterious murders.
By Imad Stitou
Jafar Panahi's film "It Was Just an Accident"

Humanism and humour

In the Iranian director's most critical film yet, Jafar Panahi presents a cross-section of society, takes aim at the practice of torture and shows fearless women claiming space. But there's still room for comedy.
By Amin Farzanefar
Historical photographs of Syria

An obsessive archivist

Ahmed Hasan sold his house to pursue a passion for historical photographs. His collection traces Syria's history through everyday life.
By Sham al-Sabsabi
Literature in Yemen

The last bastion of beauty

Yemen's cultural scene has been hard hit by years of war, but not completely silenced. While many writers and intellectuals have left the country, the small literary club Alamaqah remains active, a testament to the resilience of Yemeni culture.
By Rehab Eldin Elhawary