Debate: Arab Spring

While multiple Arab regimes were shaking from their very roots, an almost silent change took place in the West: the image, that the Arab world was essentially incompatible with democratic ideas and could only be saved from Muslim fundamentalism or tribal wars by a despot, got shattered. All of a sudden there were young people full of modern ideals who dared to stand up against the authorities to claim their rights, their freedom and their future. They were in the news when they took to the streets in masses, but their frustrations and dreams were fostered over many years: in music, art, literature – and film.

The film Microphone offers a glimpse into a part of the cultural life of the city of Alexandria that is still largely unknown to the West: the underground scene of grafitti artists, skaters, hiphop collectives and unruly bands. It becomes clear that there is little space for alternative culture in conservative Egyptian society, but filmmaker Ahmed Abdallah puts it into the spotlight.
Finding a place in society is a problem shared by the two lovers in the film Cairo Exit. They lack the connections needed in order to find a decent job, and there is no space at all for their mixed relationship. Fleeing to Europe seems the only exit. What that means for migrants and the families they leave behind is addressed in Séparations.

The humourous and open-hearted documentary Fix ME poses all sorts of questions relating to the collective traumas that the entire Arab region seems to struggle with to various degrees. Is the Arab world ready for democracy or do they need to go into collective therapy first?

Following the screening of Microphone on Sunday the 29th of May at 13.00hrs, Cinéma Arabe will organise a debate about democracy in the Arab World in collaboration with SICA (Dutch Centre for International Cultural Activities). What does democracy mean to ordinary citizens in Arab countries? Which role should Europe play in this process? And what does it all mean in relation to the development of the arts? The debate will be held in English and led by Tarik Yousif. The panel consists of Khaled Abol Naga, actor and producer of Microphone and actively involved in Mohamed el-Baradei’s political movement; Volkskrant-journalist Paul Brill and Middle East expert Maarten Jan Hijmans.