Martyr (2017 film) explained

Martyr (Arabic: شهيد) is the second feature film by Lebanese writer and director Mazen Khaled. The film was selected for screening at the 74th Venice International Film Festival in the Biennale College - Cinema section, where it was nominated for the Queer Lion award, and at the 2018 SXSW in the Global section.[1] [2] Martyr was produced by Diala Kachmar of Artrip Production and is distributed in North America by Breaking Glass Pictures and in the UK by Peccadillo Pictures.[3] [4] Martyr was described by Indiewire as "One of the most under-appreciated films of 2018".[5] It features a large ensemble cast led by Carol Abboud, Hamza Mekdad, and Moustafa Fahs.[6] [7] [8]

Plot

The storyline is built around the feelings of Hassane, a young man who cannot afford to live on his own, due to financial problems (he often loses his job). The film shows the difficult situation of this young man, who feels trapped between a strict and troubled family bond and the hopeless environment of Beirut. The scene involving Hassane and his best friend Mahmad performing a dance on a stage, which seems to be from the spiritual perspective, has a strong homoerotic element. The sudden drowning of this man at Beirut's seaside Corniche sparks a mob funeral and causes his friends, who hail from different communities, to grapple with loss and with the struggle to participate in his community's rites and ceremonies.[9] The life and death journey that the young man takes on the last day of his life exposes the schisms of the city and the fault lines dividing its society, and reveals some of the forces pushing the lives of those marginalized young men.[10] [11]

Themes

The film deals with themes of hopelessness, human closeness, death, and spirituality, with an underlying thematic tone of sexuality.

Production

The film was made on a small budget. Shooting took place at Beirut's Corniche, and in Beirut inner city neighborhoods of Ghbeiri and Basta.[12]

Cast

Music

The music for the film was provided by Zeid Hamdan and Vladimir Kurumilian.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Choreography

The dance scenes for the film were choreographed by Ali Chahrour.[17]

Festivals

- Venice International Film Festival, September 2, 2017 (World/National premiere).  

- Rome MedFilm Festival, November 2017.

- South by Southwest (SXSW), March 2018.[18]

- Belgrade International Film Festival (FEST18), March 2018.[19]

- British Film Institute -BFI Flare, March 2018.

- The Subversive Film Festival, Croatia, May 2018.

- Sicilia Queer Film Festival, May 2018.

- Arab Film Festival, San Francisco, October 2018.[20]

Awards and nominations

Venice International Film Festival

Alexandria International Film Festival, 2018

Queer Lisboa - Festival Internacional de Cinema Queer, 2018

The Lebanese Movie Awards

Reviews

The film has received generally positive reviews in The Guardian, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and Scenes Journal,[25] [26] [27] [28] as well as in many publications in Arabic,[29] French,[30] [31] etc.

Ratings

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an 80% rating. On review aggregator IMDb, the film holds an average rating of 6.8/10. The Guardian gave it 4/5 stars and called it a "Masterful, visceral, study of grief." Indiewire named it as one of the "Most Under Appreciated Movies of 2018."

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Biennale College . 5 June 2017 .
  2. Web site: SXSW 2018 Schedule. 2021-03-15. SXSW 2021 Schedule. en.
  3. Web site: Martyr - IMDb . . 11 February 2021.
  4. Web site: Mazen Khaled . IMDb . 11 February 2021.
  5. Web site: Ehrlich . David . The Most Under-Appreciated Films of 2018 — IndieWire Critics Survey . IndieWire . 11 February 2021 . en . 3 December 2018.
  6. Web site: My Queer Samsara IFFR . iffr.com . 11 February 2021.
  7. Web site: 13 LGBTQ films to watch from the fall's blockbuster film festivals . NBC News . 5 September 2017 . 11 February 2021 . en.
  8. Web site: Breaking Glass Pictures . Breaking Glass Pictures . 11 February 2021.
  9. Web site: [dubaifilmfest.com/en/news/25/151382/arab_cinema_shines_at_venice.html Dubai Film Fest ]. 11 February 2021.
  10. Web site: Martyr Queer Lion . 11 February 2021 . 22 August 2017.
  11. Web site: agendaculturel . 11 February 2021.
  12. Web site: 2017-09-09. Mazen Khaled - Martyr #Venezia74. 2021-03-15. Fred English Channel. en-US.
  13. Web site: Mazen Khaled face à la mer . L'Orient-Le Jour . 11 February 2021 . 19 July 2018.
  14. Web site: The martyr's body put under a lens . www.dailystar.com.lb . 11 February 2021.
  15. Web site: Zeid Hamdan . IMDb . 11 February 2021.
  16. Web site: Vladimir Kurumilian . IMDb . 11 February 2021.
  17. Web site: 2017-11-04. Martyr. 2021-03-15. Aflam, 6e Rencontres internationales de cinéma.
  18. Web site: Martyr. 2021-03-22. SXSW 2021 Schedule. en.
  19. Web site: MARTYR - Movies - ŽRTVA. 2021-03-22. 46.FEST International film festival - CEBEF. en.
  20. Web site: 2018-09-17. Arab Film Festival: MARTYR. 2021-03-22. Roxie.
  21. Web site: 2017-08-22. Martyr Queer Lion. 2021-03-15. en-US.
  22. Web site: Kenny . Glenn . Venice 2017: The Biennale College Festivals & Awards Roger Ebert . www.rogerebert.com/ . 11 February 2021 . en.
  23. Web site: Martyr - CGiii...for LGBT films, filmmakers & festivals . cgiii.com . 11 February 2021.
  24. Web site: Winners Queer Lisboa. 2021-03-15. queerlisboa.pt.
  25. Web site: Morris . Wesley . 'Martyr' Review: Tight Bonds and Isolation in Beirut (Published 2018) . The New York Times . 11 February 2021 . 13 December 2018.
  26. Web site: Scenes Journal . Scenes Journal . 11 February 2021.
  27. Web site: Review: Meditative Lebanese drama 'Martyr' bathes in the grace of grief and loss . Los Angeles Times . 11 February 2021 . 29 November 2018.
  28. Web site: 2021-03-09. Martyr review – masterful, visceral study of grief. 2021-03-15. The Guardian. en.
  29. Web site: 2018-07-21. مازن خالد: "شهيد" فيلم يحث لغة الجسد والحواس الخمس. 2021-12-04. القدس العربي. ar.
  30. Web site: 2018-07-19. Martyr, ou les plongeurs de Ain el-Mreissé. 2021-12-04. AgendaCulturel.
  31. Web site: 2018-07-19. Mazen Khaled face à la mer. 2021-12-04. L'Orient-Le Jour.

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