Jordanian ‘Al Monataf’ opens Amman’s Arab Film Festival

AMMAN — The Arab Film Festival kicked off on Sunday in Amman with a surreal journey in a Volkswagen minivan in the Jordanian film “Al Monataf”. 

The first of 10 films to be screened during the festival, starring Palestinian actor Ashraf Barhoum and Syrian actress Fatina Laila, “Al Monataf” (The Curve) tells the story of reclusive and socially inept Radi and the people he reluctantly picks up in his van, which is also his home, on his way to Irbid.

“Al Monataf” is the first feature-length film of award-winning Jordanian writer and director Rifqi Assaf, who describes it as “an existential journey rather than a realistic one”. 

Assaf said he chose to distance the film from the urban atmosphere of Amman, shooting most scenes in natural or deserted areas in northern Jordan.

During an audience discussion after the screening at the Royal Film Commission (RFC), Assaf said it took nearly six years for the 90-minute drama to see the light, mostly due to funding difficulties. 

The film, which was screened at several international film festivals, is derived from Assaf’s personal experience, he said.

The director explained that the main character was in some ways a representation of himself, adding that he hoped the venture had paid off.  

“For me, cinema is personal. If you’re not saying something personal, you’re not going to say it well, and if you’re not saying something personal you are not enjoying what you’re saying,” he said. 

In its sixth edition, the Arab Film Festival is featuring 10 internationally recognised documentaries and narrative films from seven Arab countries: Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, Bahrain, the UAE and Iraq. 

Guests and representatives of the films will be attending the screenings at the RFC, and discussions will be held after each film.

At the opening of the festival on Sunday, the RFC and Culture Minister Adel Tweisi presented an award to Al Rai journalist and film critic Najeh Hassan for his long-time support of Arabic cinema and exceptional film coverage.

On Tuesday night, the award-winning Moroccan drama “A mile in my shoes” will be screened, and director Saeed Khallaf will attend.  

From Palestine, Muayad Alayan’s drama-thriller “Love, theft and other entanglements” is scheduled to screen on Wednesday at 8pm.

Films will be screened at 8pm every night until July 25 at the RFC headquarters in Jabal Amman. 

The festival will close with the Lebanese comedy “Very big shot” in the presence of actor Fouad Yammine.