Timing is Everything

Cairo Time
Dir: Ruba Nadda, 2009

Slow-burning and intoxicating.

Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) is on her first trip to Cairo, where she plans to meet up with her husband, who's stuck dealing with a "flare-up" in a Gaza refugee camp. So, after a few ill-fated attempts at venturing out on her own, she cures her malaise by exploring the city — and some other stuff — with the errant husband's former colleague, Tareq (Alexander Siddig).

Cairo Time is:
Seductive. Siddig — who I think looks like an Arabic version of Hugh Laurie — oozes understated sexiness from every pore, in every scene. The dark hooded eyes, the way his slender frame moves in those crisp-but-loose dress shirts...mmm. And no amount of air conditioning could totally subdue the heat of the film's generous desert shots and the way Juliette and Tareq smoke that hookah. Clarkson and Siddig have great chemistry and it's often all in their body language. 

Beautiful. The cinematography is stunning. The shots are rich, lingering, vibrant. From the pyramids at Giza, to the White Desert, to Clarkson's radiance in bright flowy fabrics, there's so much about this film that will take your breath away.

A bit of a throwback. It feels more old timey cinema than it does contemporary indie flick. There's sweeping music, subtlety, quiet elegance, but no melodrama and no cynicism.

Artful. If you're a person who makes distinctions between "films" and "movies," you can categorize this as the former. It looks made with love, labor and mindfulness. Everything is intentional, but somehow still surprising.

Culturally interesting. It lets you ingest a few slices of Cairo life and depicts the culture clash in a smart, but nonchalant way. Sure, Juliette commits a handful of faux pas, but they're not harped on or milked for comic relief. For instance, the audience is definitely aware that she is out of place walking the streets of Cairo in short sleeves and knee-length skirts, and maybe a bit concerned for her, but it never becomes glaring to her and it's not overtly discussed. No stern talking-to, just people staring, which seems to me more authentic (Granted, I've never been to Egypt. But when I do culturally stupid things in other countries — even my own motherland — people usually just stare and/or give me dirty looks).


Cairo Time is NOT:
Fast-paced. While there are definitely exciting moments, it's not the type of film you should see if you're looking to get your adrenaline pumping. The plot unfolds in a timeless haze (because, of course, that's how life works in hot climates...right?)

Heavy on plot. Things happen, but not many things. Not earth-shattering things. It's more about encounters and exchanges than it is about intense drama. Which, of course, makes the few intense scenes even more nail-biting.

I loved and would recommend Cairo Time, but I'll also warn that it's not for everyone.