Review of Cairo Time (2009) by Ceph J — 01 Sep 2010

I hate critics who call "Cairo Time" a romance. What romance? It's a movie filled with longing between the characters but they neither orally acknowledge their feelings nor consummate the attraction. Well, if you consider a kiss on the cheek, that's as far as they mutally go. Credit the movie for displaying what romantic feelings between grown ups is like and that love isn't all about beating up on issues and getting sweaty under the sheets. The movie is right, that love can be internal and discreet.

Patricia Clarkson is ideal in this role. Too bad, her character doesn't go through a catharsis or has an arc in growth to display this actress's strength or she would be a contender for Best Actress next year. I'm afraid it may put some viewers to sleep since it's slow moving and basically nothing eventful happens. Alexander Siddig is perfect int he role of the charismatic Tareq and he reminds me, with his minimal acting style, of David Strathaim. Director Ruba Nadda directs it well and depicts the city of Cairo as a supporting character. The city breathes with culture and makes me want to visit it.

The movie is less than 90 minutes and there's some scenes which should have stretched to explain motives. Walking the street, Clarkson is besieged by a group of young men. She takes refuge in a store but I wish she could have confronted them and we, the audience, could have understood that these men are not purse snatchers but unemployed and want to show this woman the city or get into her bed. Fortunately, the movie serves as an excellent guide to the mystical Eyptian pyramids.