There's an ease and naturalness that actress Patricia Clarkson exudes, especially befitting in the role of Miss Juliette in w-d Ruba Nadda's "Cairo Time." An elegant performance, with such grace and polished refinement - subtle, unassuming, in leisurely harmonious simplicity. Composer Niall Byrne's aptly complementing rhythm and piano notes reminded me of Michael Nyman's score in Jane Campion's "The Piano" 1993. It's about unwarned tremors of the heart - two hearts, to be exact, here in "Cairo Time" on borrowed time - heavenly moments on earth.
Guilty pleasure? There's such an innocence about the 'meetings of two remarkable hearts', guilt is not admissible here. The relationship between Miss Juliette and Tareq, a friend of Juliette's husband, Mark, and at Mark's request, to accompany Juliette and facilitate what she might need while Mark's unavailable for the time being. Not complicated at all. Hence it's easy to be unrestrained in their exploration of each other, given the time and circumstance they happened to be in. It's fate - as Tareq pointed out, it's what people believe in Cairo - happenstance per chance.
Platonic is hardly the word - inadequate in describing the romantic moments in Cairo Time. Its emotional depth may not be obvious, yet not as simple as it might seem. The trailer provided clues to the framework of this relationship, including that unwary peck on the lips which Clarkson's instinctive 'oh' we detect. Savoring the memorable instance, we see her smiling to herself as she relaxes lying down. We, too, relish in every movement, moment, the joy of being in each other's company. Ah, the train ride, the casual exchange, the one-word response of Tareq's, "stay." Why he does mean it and wanted her to - stay. Why she does contemplate on opening a women's only café - hm, to match his men's only café, indeed. The flow of the relationship ever so natural, unforced - we can feel it's blossoming along.
Just as the growing mutual admiration caught unaware to the two hearts, they were caught unaware also when the brief encounter stops short by Mark calling out Juliette's name. The heavenly moments on borrowed time abruptly yanked away from them, was so close yet out of reach. She touches the pendant next to her heart. Quivering thoughts fade. Is Mark here or not really here? Yearning once freed now fluttered within, restrained. Take a deep breath. There's the pyramids, Mark by her side.
My sense is that CAIRO TIME could be genuinely appreciated more by women, women friends enjoying the film together, rather than seeing it with husband or male companion. (Too mature for a date movie.*) Why? This is the sort of fantasy dream situation that a husband or partner can be wary of. Really? Affairs of the heart are certainly not elaborately exaggerated by Shakespeare.
In a way likened to Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo" 1985, the couple within the movie and us the audience outside of the film, both are caught unaware of the extent of quivering hearts, where they may lead us. "Cairo Time" is an inviting journey, leisurely pleasurable just by watching Patricia Clarkson's exquisitely natural portrayal of Miss Juliette and her match of a beau - tall, dark & handsome Alexander Siddig as Tareq, equally mature, intelligent, and cultured. Together we spend some Cairo Time, and forget the rest of the world - let us suspend in time, in what w-d Ruba Nadda and her excellent filmmaking collaborators had created for us to enjoy.
Clarkson crystallizes as THE screen goddess, exceeding her super versatile self as in "The Station Agent" "Married Life" "Lars and the Real Girl" "High Art" and so many others. "Cairo Time" is shot entirely on location in Cairo, Egypt with an endearing tagline: "Sometimes you need to forget the rules and remember your heart." Check out the official website "www.cairotime.ca" where you can view the trailer, learn about the 'history of Cairo Time' behind the scenes production notes, cast and crew, photo gallery, more review articles. Cinematographer is Luc Montpellier who has worked with director Nadda on her previous feature "Sabah" 2005.
* For a date movie, w-d Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" 2010 is outward fun dealings with affairs of the hearts (multiple hearts and teens, alright, with Michael Cera), or substantial lessons from Marc Webb's "(500) Days of Summer" 2009 with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, for developing-maturing young couples.
Guilty pleasure? There's such an innocence about the 'meetings of two remarkable hearts', guilt is not admissible here. The relationship between Miss Juliette and Tareq, a friend of Juliette's husband, Mark, and at Mark's request, to accompany Juliette and facilitate what she might need while Mark's unavailable for the time being. Not complicated at all. Hence it's easy to be unrestrained in their exploration of each other, given the time and circumstance they happened to be in. It's fate - as Tareq pointed out, it's what people believe in Cairo - happenstance per chance.
Platonic is hardly the word - inadequate in describing the romantic moments in Cairo Time. Its emotional depth may not be obvious, yet not as simple as it might seem. The trailer provided clues to the framework of this relationship, including that unwary peck on the lips which Clarkson's instinctive 'oh' we detect. Savoring the memorable instance, we see her smiling to herself as she relaxes lying down. We, too, relish in every movement, moment, the joy of being in each other's company. Ah, the train ride, the casual exchange, the one-word response of Tareq's, "stay." Why he does mean it and wanted her to - stay. Why she does contemplate on opening a women's only café - hm, to match his men's only café, indeed. The flow of the relationship ever so natural, unforced - we can feel it's blossoming along.
Just as the growing mutual admiration caught unaware to the two hearts, they were caught unaware also when the brief encounter stops short by Mark calling out Juliette's name. The heavenly moments on borrowed time abruptly yanked away from them, was so close yet out of reach. She touches the pendant next to her heart. Quivering thoughts fade. Is Mark here or not really here? Yearning once freed now fluttered within, restrained. Take a deep breath. There's the pyramids, Mark by her side.
My sense is that CAIRO TIME could be genuinely appreciated more by women, women friends enjoying the film together, rather than seeing it with husband or male companion. (Too mature for a date movie.*) Why? This is the sort of fantasy dream situation that a husband or partner can be wary of. Really? Affairs of the heart are certainly not elaborately exaggerated by Shakespeare.
In a way likened to Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo" 1985, the couple within the movie and us the audience outside of the film, both are caught unaware of the extent of quivering hearts, where they may lead us. "Cairo Time" is an inviting journey, leisurely pleasurable just by watching Patricia Clarkson's exquisitely natural portrayal of Miss Juliette and her match of a beau - tall, dark & handsome Alexander Siddig as Tareq, equally mature, intelligent, and cultured. Together we spend some Cairo Time, and forget the rest of the world - let us suspend in time, in what w-d Ruba Nadda and her excellent filmmaking collaborators had created for us to enjoy.
Clarkson crystallizes as THE screen goddess, exceeding her super versatile self as in "The Station Agent" "Married Life" "Lars and the Real Girl" "High Art" and so many others. "Cairo Time" is shot entirely on location in Cairo, Egypt with an endearing tagline: "Sometimes you need to forget the rules and remember your heart." Check out the official website "www.cairotime.ca" where you can view the trailer, learn about the 'history of Cairo Time' behind the scenes production notes, cast and crew, photo gallery, more review articles. Cinematographer is Luc Montpellier who has worked with director Nadda on her previous feature "Sabah" 2005.
* For a date movie, w-d Edgar Wright's "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" 2010 is outward fun dealings with affairs of the hearts (multiple hearts and teens, alright, with Michael Cera), or substantial lessons from Marc Webb's "(500) Days of Summer" 2009 with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel, for developing-maturing young couples.