SHARJAH // It may have been decades before their time, but children attending the opening of Sharjah's first film appreciation club were enthralled as they were taken back to the silent movie era with a screening of early Hollywood's comic duo of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.
The Magic Lantern, a club which began in Switzerland in 1992 to enrich children's knowledge of cinema, showcased its first film - the 1928 silent picture Two Tars - last night as part of a series of six films from different genres at the Al Qasba. It has been brought to the UAE in association with Swiss Art Gate UAE and Emirates Foundation.
Twenty five children aged six to 11 flashed their exclusive club card for a movie experience from a different era. Giggles filled the mini-theatre when local actors introduced a classic Laurel and Hardy gag through a slapstick comedy show.
"Do you know what Magic Lantern is about?" Ali al Sayed, an actor from the Dubomedy group, asked his audience. Seven-year-old Owais Mosli was quick to respond with: "Maybe, it's about magic."
But it is more than that, said Alessandra Romanelli, who coordinates The Magic Lantern clubs based outside Switzerland. "We try to teach children how to watch a movie and become an active public rather than just being slaves of images they are exposed to."
Films representing different eras and emotions have been selected to provide a wide range of information on the history, techniques and direction involved in filmmaking.
"The local actors will provide the background to the movie that we showcase to try and underline that period of cinema, like with Laurel and Hardy, how the transition from silent to sound happened," Ms Romanelli said.
ETFs explained
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There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
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Iran's dirty tricks to dodge sanctions
There’s increased scrutiny on the tricks being used to keep commodities flowing to and from blacklisted countries. Here’s a description of how some work.
1 Going Dark
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2. Ship-to-Ship Transfers
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3. Fake Destinations
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The Bio
Ram Buxani earned a salary of 125 rupees per month in 1959
Indian currency was then legal tender in the Trucial States.
He received the wages plus food, accommodation, a haircut and cinema ticket twice a month and actuals for shaving and laundry expenses
Buxani followed in his father’s footsteps when he applied for a job overseas
His father Jivat Ram worked in general merchandize store in Gibraltar and the Canary Islands in the early 1930s
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Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
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The burning issue
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Date started: early 2020
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Funding to date: Bootstrapped