Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: AL KHALLAT [Red Sea International Film Festival 2022 - Jeddah, Saudi Arabia]

The context of "Al Khallat" as an anthology films brings together different perspectives of Arabic life but also places it within an almost "Short Cuts" context with a bit of comedy and an aspect of stakes. That said the tone of the film is in an overall way, comedic. Following a seemingly loose connection of interspersing stories, it examines different ideas of life, that while foreign to many Westerners, is very intrinsic in this part of the world. The world premiere audience at the Red Sea Gala cinema responded with undeniable enthusiasm to much of the comedy.

The first story followed a set of thieves, one of whom is captured, and then his compatriots must find a way, in an almost slapstick way, to get him out of a local community gathering without getting captured themselves. The essence of most of the stories told is that there is always a consequence in the end to an action. The second story is more family oriented in that it follows a religious man and woman (she is completely covered in a burka) who are trying to reconnect (as they are about to divorce) but they are doing so at a very public high end restaurant that their daughter works at. The physical humor of the fact of no PDA allowed and she must remain completely covered at all times matched with the heart of the scenario makes this one the most endearing of all the stories.

The third story involves perhaps one of the earlier characters who gets involved in a car crash. The comedy involves trying him to keep information from an incoming phone call secret from his good friend's wife. Again slapstick is done here in a more localized/regional tradition which is able to keep it light without making it too dark. The final story takes place in Dubai seemingly with what is a younger version of one of the characters in the second story (yet the use of cell phones is the same) when the son of a family man in Iraq mistakenly gets ushered into a club with one of his son's favorite football stars is partying but trying to keep his appearance a secret. The chicanery of the father trying to main decor and values as the night slips out of his control is again sweet but with enough edge to make it palpable for all.

That said, “Al Khallat” which will be released in the region in January. gives a good perspective and balance to the kind of comedy that audiences here seem engaged in. B

By Tim Wassberg