28 March - 22 April '07

IMAGES FROM THE ARAB WORLD

Strange Games and Bridges by Jocelyne Saab

Enter a world turned upside down by conflict in this layered landscape recreated by Jocelyne Saab. Composed from real images taken from her life experiences, Saab takes you a journey through a cycle of destruction and renewal/rebirth in this anonymous garden-city. Peculiar games are played out by children in an attempt to make sense of reality. Bridges, a metaphor for communication, connects us to the memories of the past, recalling the shared experiences of the people of this city.

About the filmmaker: Jocelyne Saab was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1975 she became a war reporter and began directing independent documentaries in the Middle East. After more than 20 films and numerous international awards, Saab moved into fiction. In 1985, her first feature film Suspended Life was selected for the Director's Fortnight at the Cannes International film festival. Once Upon A Time in Beirut followed in 1995.

In her works, Saab addresses the theme of memory and voices a plea for tolerance and freedom. In 1997, her prize-winning French documentary shot in Vietnam, Lady from Saigon enabled her to distance herself from war. In 2005, living between Paris and Cairo, she directed DUNIA – Kiss Me Not On The Eyes about female desire. The film was nominated in the Sundance International Film Festival and opened the Singapore International Film Festival in 2006.