Film Screenings - Abu Dhabi Film Festival at The Space in June
The fourth edition of Abu Dhabi Film Festival at The Space for the month of June will feature films that "made the journey to Cannes".
The 67th annual Cannes Film Festival completed last month but we invite you to explore highly original films and masterful filmmakers who made the journey to Cannes. Directors Jeff Nichols, Annemarie Jacir, Pablo Larrain, Cherien Dabis and Hugh Hudson each created innovative, daring and highly memorable stories that have left an indelible impression across the world.
Here's the line up for June. All screenings are free, but you must RSVP in advance. The screenings take place every Monday at The Space in Abu Dhabi, starting at 7pm, except on 30th June, the film will be screened at 5pm (due to Ramadan hours).
Monday, 2nd June 2014 at 7pm
Salt of this Sea (Milh Hadha Al Bahr) by Annemarie Jacir (Palestine)
Drama/Romance | PG | 109 minutes | Arabic with English Subtitles
Soraya, 28, born and raised in Brooklyn, decides to return to live in Palestine, a country that her family was exiled from in 1948. On arriving in Ramallah, Soraya tries to recover the money left in an account by her grandparents but meets with refusal from the bank.
Her path then crosses that of Emad, a young Palestinian whose ambition, unlike hers, is to leave the country for good. To escape the constraints linked to the situation in Palestine but also to earn their freedom, Soraya and Emad take things into their own hands, even if this means breaking the law. In this quest for life, we follow their trail through the History of a lost Palestine.
Monday, 9th June 2014 at 7pm
Take Shelter by Jeff Nichols (USA)
Thriller/Drama | 15+ | 121 minutes | English
When Curtis (Michael Shannon) begins having nightmares of an encroaching, apocalyptic storm, he refrains from telling his wife, Samantha (Jessica Chastain). To protect her and their six-year-old deaf daughter Hannah, Curtis starts focusing his anxiety and money into the obsessive building of a storm shelter.
While Hannah's healthcare and special needs education has resulted in financial struggle, Curtis' seemingly inexplicable behavior concerns Samantha and provokes intolerance among co-workers, friends and neighbors. However, the resulting strain on his marriage and tension within the community doesn't compare to Curtis' private fear of what his disturbing dreams may truly signify.
Monday, 16th June 2014 at 7pm
No by Pablo Larrain (Chile)
Drama/Politics | 12+ | 108 minutes | Spanish with English Subtitles
In 1988, Chilean military dictator Augusto Pinochet, due to international pressure, is forced to call a plebiscite on his presidency. The country will vote YES or NO to Pinochet extending his rule for another eight years.
Opposition leaders of the NO vote persuade a brash young advertising executive, René Saavedra (Gael García Bernal), to spearhead their campaign. Against all odds, with scant resources and under scrutiny by the despot's minions, Saavedra and his team devise an audacious plan to win the election and set Chile free.
Monday, 23rd June 2014 at 7pm
Amreeka by Cherien Dabis (USA)
Comedy/Drama/Family | G | 97 minutes | Arabic/English with English Subtitles
Muna Farah, a Palestinian single mum, struggles to maintain her optimistic spirit in the daily grind of intimidating West Bank checkpoints, the constant nagging of a controlling mother, and the haunting shadows of a failed marriage.
Everything changes one day when she receives a letter informing her that her family has been granted a U.S. Green Card. Reluctant to leave her homeland, but realising it may be the only way to secure a future for Fadi, her teenage son, Muna decides to quit her job at the bank and visit her relatives in Illinois to see about a new life in a land that gives newcomers a run for their money.
Monday, 30th June 2014 at 5pm
Chariots of Fire by Hugh Hudson (UK)
Drama/Sports | G | 124 minutes | English
A cinematic masterpiece that earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, CHARIOTS OF FIRE recounts the widely celebrated, inspiring true story of two British runners competing in the 1924 Olympic Games.
Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), a driven athlete of Jewish ancestry, runs to overcome prejudice and to achieve personal fame; his rival Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a devout Scottish missionary competes for the glory of God. An inspirational story of spirit and strength in the face of enormous odds, the film combines the finest elements of athletic competition and human drama to create a compelling and timeless classic.