Alshaima’a Tayeb, who plays Amra is not a professional actor. She used the experiences of her friends in the same situation to help shape the character. Courtesy Mahmoud Sabbagh
Alshaima’a Tayeb, who plays Amra is not a professional actor. She used the experiences of her friends in the same situation to help shape the character. Courtesy Mahmoud Sabbagh
Alshaima’a Tayeb, who plays Amra is not a professional actor. She used the experiences of her friends in the same situation to help shape the character. Courtesy Mahmoud Sabbagh
Alshaima’a Tayeb, who plays Amra is not a professional actor. She used the experiences of her friends in the same situation to help shape the character. Courtesy Mahmoud Sabbagh

Saudi film ‘Amra and the Second Marriage' tackles a shift in tradition


Kaleem Aftab
  • English
  • Arabic

Amra and the Second Marriage, the highly anticipated new film from Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh, will have its Arabian premiere as part of the Horizons of the Arab Cinema competition at the Cairo Film Festival, which starts on Tuesday.

Told in the tragicomedic style of the Coen Brothers, Sabbagh's film tells the story of a 44-year-old housewife ­discovering that her retiring husband is planning to marry for a second time, with his new wife-to-be younger than the first.

Chided by her mother-in-law for having “only” produced daughters, Amra is initially placid and accepting of her husband’s desire for a wife who may bear him a son, but her mood darkens as the realities of the tightening of economies and the chaos in her own household set in. Should she be the one to make all the sacrifices?

"Of course the practice of marrying more than one wife has become less common, particularly in urban communities, but it still exists," the director tells me when we meet in the cafe of the Curzon Soho following the film's world premiere at the London Film Festival.

“For me, it’s captivating to show the emotions that first wives go through. There is not only the stigmatisation about the whole thing, but it’s fascinating to see how Amra tries to make sense of what’s happening. As often happens, her husband tries to hide his second marriage from her, but when she finds out, it’s like fire.”

At the centre of the film is a delicate performance by non-professional actor Alshaima'a Tayeb as Amra. She has worked in advertising, and fashion, and is currently studying herbalism. "I don't want method actors, so as usual I cast from my organic surroundings," says Sabbagh, who had an extensive rehearsal period with Tayeb. "Also Alshaima'a knows a lot of first wives in her circles, so she helped me to shape the character."

Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh is the head of the new Saudi film festival. Photo by Ahmed Mater
Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh is the head of the new Saudi film festival. Photo by Ahmed Mater

The action takes place in a fictional city near a gas field where the workforce lives. Similar residential areas in Saudi Arabia house people from all different backgrounds and classes, especially as an increasing number of Saudis take jobs as consultants, ­resulting in people with more modern attitudes living next door to traditional families. It's the perfect melting pot to reflect the tensions and changes that come with a ­modernising Kingdom.

"This film as much as it's about a housewife in her forties, is also about the whole cultural and social climate in Saudi," says the 35-year-old director. "It's been enthralling to try and observe and mock these stiff paradigms. I make films about hierarchies and power structures. In this case, about masculinity and patriarchy."

Yet, he is also clear that he doesn't want to make movies that offend anyone. He wants to highlight the issues with wit and charm, just as he did with his hit debut film, Barakah Meets Barakah. Sabbagh may have a master's degree in journalism and documentary filmmaking from Columbia University in New York, but he makes films in the Kingdom for a Saudi audience.

“One could write scholarly papers on patriarchy, or become an antagonistic activist, and these are legitimate ways of attacking and combating patriarchy,” says Sabbagh. “But as a filmmaker, I wanted to make a film that makes people laugh and also makes those who have patriarchal tendencies smile as well.”

The director is a pioneer, and is making cultural observational films in a nascent industry at a time when it's still unclear what the boundaries and limitations are. It's a grey area. When he shot his debut feature in 2015, there were no cinemas in his native land and consequently, there were no procedures for making movies. The only way to make a narrative feature in Jeddah was to apply for a license to make a television series.

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"Then I just made a film," Sabbagh says. "As [German screenwriter]Werner Herzog says: 'Always ask for forgiveness, don't ask for permission.' And to be honest, people loved the movie and I think that was because it was honest."

Ironically enough, Barakah Meets Barakah is about a young millennial couple trying to flirt with the Kingdom's rules so that they can meet in person, away from their keyboards and social media. How far can they push the limits without incurring the wrath of the authorities? The film premiered in 2016 at the Berlin Film Festival, and it went on to become a highlight.

It also won the approval of the ­Kingdom's authorities and was chosen as the Saudi Foreign Language Oscar submission. The building of cinemas and the acceptability of movie-making alongside allowing women to drive and permitting musicians to perform concerts, is part of the modernisation process announced under the Saudi Vision 2030 umbrella, which aims to reduce the state's reliance on oil for revenue.

"Amra and the Second Marriage is one of the first films to be made in Jeddah that has an actual film license," says Sabbagh. "I hope it also becomes the first Saudi film to be distributed in Saudi cinemas. At the moment, it's a bit early to say if that will happen, but I will push for it."

Thus far, though, with the director's cinematic dreams, it seems that the impossible always becomes possible. "I've always been fascinated by storytelling, and I'm an avid reader and watch a lot of films, so in 2015 I visited the Berlinale as a tourist," he says. "I didn't know anyone in international cinema. I just bought the tickets from the booth and I thought if these kids can make films, why can't I? I have a unique story. I have things I want to say. I did Barakah with the least amount of resources, and most of the actors were my friends and family and we shot in our own houses. With Amra, it became more structured and professional. My third film will probably be a hybrid of both styles."

Amra and the Second Marriage will screen at the Cairo International Film Festival, which runs from Tuesday until November 29

If you go

The flights

Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes. 

The car

Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.

The hotels

Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes. 

More info

To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest. 

 

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

Tips for used car buyers
  • Choose cars with GCC specifications
  • Get a service history for cars less than five years old
  • Don’t go cheap on the inspection
  • Check for oil leaks
  • Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
  • Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
  • Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
  • Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
  • If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell

Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The Pope's itinerary

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport