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43. Transit Cities (Mudon Al Tranzit)

One of the occasional joys of everyfilm is that I get to have a movie festival in my own house.
This time, James McKenzie has sent me a batch of pictures which are due to be screened as part of a Middle Eastern Festival at Edinburgh's Filmhouse.
I can't wait. The culture of the Middle East is one in which I immersed myself a few times last year and found rich rewards (isn't it amazing to see A Separation nominated for an Oscar?).
Anyway, I started with this tale of a westernised woman Laila (Saba Moubarak) who returns to her family in Jordan after 14 years in America.
The trouble is that the capital, Amman, where her family lives, has much changed and so have they.
Laila is an independent woman who lets her hair flow and her feeling known but she has entered a much more traditionally Islamic world (at one point a bank clerk throws her a rug to cover up her legs).
She also has a secret which she is keeping away from her kin - she is in midst of divorce proceedings.
Laila's father (Mohammad Al-Qabbani) is particularly at odds with her behaviour and refuses to even speak to her.
At 71 minutes, Transit Cities is short and to the point.
Most importantly, it is enlightening. I can't recall seeing a film from Jordan before and while there is little in the movie that helps the viewer appreciate its countryside, there is plenty which shows how its heart beats.
Overall, its a low-key but effective drama and I enjoyed it.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6/10

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