The importance of artistic expression is the central theme of Saudi Arabian film “Norah.” However, for the filmmakers, that theme goes beyond the film. It’s also the driving…
00:14:44
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
00:14:44
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
00:11:38
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
Perfection is rarely achieved in movies, but this heaven-sent concert doc hits the sweet spot. Over two days in January 1972, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin — she was 29 at the time — sweeps into the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts in front of a congregation and testifies to God in song. The blessed thing took nearly half a century to come out because director Sydney Pollack failed to sync the image with the sound. Then digital angels stepped in, and glory, glory, hallelujah!
The importance of artistic expression is the central theme of Saudi Arabian film “Norah.” However, for the filmmakers, that theme goes beyond the film. It’s also the driving inspiration behind their commitment to storytelling.
Longtime acquaintances “Norah” director, writer and producer Tawfik Alzaidi and star Yaqoub Alfarhan spoke about the appeal of their film with Variety executive editor of film and media Tatiana Siegel in a conversation for Variety Lounge presented by Film AlUla at the Red Sea Film Festival.
Set in 1990s Saudi Arabia, during a time in which art was not allowed, “Norah” follows Nader (Alfarhan), an artist who, unable to practice his art, moves to a remote village to work as a schoolteacher. There, he meets a young woman, Norah (Maria Bahrawi), who feels trapped in an arranged marriage. The two find empathy for one another in their similar struggles and develop a creative relationship with one another.
For Alfarhan, the universality of Nader’s character, specifically his identity as a creative, made portraying the role fairly seamless.
“It’s a complicated character, but I don’t think it really took, for me personally, a lot of preparing,” Alfarhan said.
“The character of Nader, he’s an artist. He’s a painter and a teacher. Anyone that has something beautiful inside them — and he really want to express that — but sometimes in life, you find yourself in a place where it’s not easy to be heard,” Alfarhan continued.
Asked about plans to work in Hollywood, Alzaidi expressed that he was open to the idea. For Alzaidi, the strength of the story matters more than where it’s set or produced.
“I love to do any new experience in another country … I love to tell the story to all the world from another world. I think my job is to the story and about people. Why not?” Alzaidi concluded.
Alfarhan echoed Alzaidi, saying that he wouldn’t be against starring in a strong story, whether or not it was from Saudi Arabia or Hollywood. Still, he thinks there’s a lot of untapped potential in the Saudi Arabian film industry, specifically in highlighting Saudi Arabian narratives.
“We live in really interesting times, and we still have so many stories here to tell,” said Alfarhan.