Cairo Time (2009)
A simple, slightly elegiac tale of an American woman lost in time as she waits in Cairo for her diplomat husband to arrive from Gaza. She is only vaguely interested in the culture around her at first, and is even surprised (which surprised me) that she was revealing too much hair and skin on the streets for the Muslim standards there. But as she learns the feel of the place, she also learns to appreciate it. And an Egyptian man, an old friend of her husband's, begins to take her for little jaunts around the city and nearby in the country to give her the real feel of life there.
And that is all! Yes, and it's a good thing. It's never quite slow or boring, so don't fret that, but it's not a melodrama, nor is some big twist of events about to happen. There are times when the writing hits a bump, or when the actors behave a bit outside a natural flow, but when it's on its stride, it has a wonderful feel and it's like traveling a bit yourself.
Patricia Clarkson was an odd choice for the leading role, in a way, though in part it is her very fair skin and blond-red hair that set up a vivid contrast to the men all around her. But she is (in other roles) often filled with spirit and sass, and here she is so laid back and almost lifeless it's disconcerting. Her counterpart, the wonderfully poised if also wooden Alexander Siddig, creates the idea of the polite man selflessly helping a friend's wife. And it is this selflessness that eventually impresses the woman.
Something more could have been attained here, and you can feel it close to happening. I think the intention was some kind of deep love born out of the purest kindness, and it patiently develops. The little bit of travelog built in is nice in some ways but it feels slightly intentional, like we are meant to enjoy that aspect on top of the plot, but it dilutes it —the sidetrips should have felt completely incidental, as were the more common scenes of modern Cairo which were fascinating from this New Yorker's poor point of view.
Take it all in perspective, I guess, another lesson built into this imperfect but well- intentioned story.
A simple, slightly elegiac tale of an American woman lost in time as she waits in Cairo for her diplomat husband to arrive from Gaza. She is only vaguely interested in the culture around her at first, and is even surprised (which surprised me) that she was revealing too much hair and skin on the streets for the Muslim standards there. But as she learns the feel of the place, she also learns to appreciate it. And an Egyptian man, an old friend of her husband's, begins to take her for little jaunts around the city and nearby in the country to give her the real feel of life there.
And that is all! Yes, and it's a good thing. It's never quite slow or boring, so don't fret that, but it's not a melodrama, nor is some big twist of events about to happen. There are times when the writing hits a bump, or when the actors behave a bit outside a natural flow, but when it's on its stride, it has a wonderful feel and it's like traveling a bit yourself.
Patricia Clarkson was an odd choice for the leading role, in a way, though in part it is her very fair skin and blond-red hair that set up a vivid contrast to the men all around her. But she is (in other roles) often filled with spirit and sass, and here she is so laid back and almost lifeless it's disconcerting. Her counterpart, the wonderfully poised if also wooden Alexander Siddig, creates the idea of the polite man selflessly helping a friend's wife. And it is this selflessness that eventually impresses the woman.
Something more could have been attained here, and you can feel it close to happening. I think the intention was some kind of deep love born out of the purest kindness, and it patiently develops. The little bit of travelog built in is nice in some ways but it feels slightly intentional, like we are meant to enjoy that aspect on top of the plot, but it dilutes it —the sidetrips should have felt completely incidental, as were the more common scenes of modern Cairo which were fascinating from this New Yorker's poor point of view.
Take it all in perspective, I guess, another lesson built into this imperfect but well- intentioned story.