DFI Cinema to screen five films that highlight family bonding

DOHA: The Doha Film Institute Cinema (DFI Cinema) will present five acclaimed international films, that celebrate paternal relationships, at a specially curated ‘Fathers Through the Lens’.

The screenings will be held from April 26 to 29 at the Museum of Islamic Art Auditorium.

Fatma Al Remaihi, Chief Executive Officer, of the Doha Film Institute, said: “’Fathers Through the Lens’ features a collection of five films, including winners of international awards, by acclaimed directors. Each film presents a captivating narrative that highlights familial bonding that will appeal to all. The screening is part of our year-round initiative to present inspiring films that demonstrate the power of storytelling and strengthen appreciation of quality films.”

‘Fathers Through the Lens’ will commence with the screening of ‘Wajib (Palestine, France, Qatar, Norway/2017) on Thursday, April 26, 7pm. The film’s director, Annemarie Jacir; producer, Ossama Bawardi; and actor, Mohammad Bakri; will be in attendance for an intro and post-screening Q&A session.

The film revolves around Shadi, who returns to his hometown to help his father hand-deliver his sister’s wedding invitations. He has spent the last several years abroad and there is little he misses about this place he left a long time ago. As the two men drive around Nazareth, Abu-Shadi tries to connect with his son. Drily humorous, the film takes place over the course of one day as these two men travel from house to house beginning a new relationship, while at the same time trying to deal with old tensions.

On April 27 at 7pm, ‘Le Grande Voyage’ (France, Morocco, Bulgaria, Turkey/2004), directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi, will be screened.

The film charts the journey of Reda, a young French man, who agrees to accompany his elderly Moroccan father on the Haj. The only catch: the journey from France to Saudi Arabia will be by car. Along the way, the father and son will cross national borders, seas, even continents, but no distance is greater than the one they cross to come to terms with each other. The film won the Lion of the Future Award for a First Feature Film at the 61st Venice Film Festival in 2004.

On April 28 at 4pm, ‘Fantastic Mr. Fox’ (USA/2009), directed by Wes Anderson, will be screened. Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, this is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Fox who live an idyllic home life with their son Ash and visiting young nephew Kristopherson. But after 12 years, the rural life proves too much for Mr Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief and in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. A special school screening will also be presented for younger audiences.

‘Like Father, Like Son’ (Japan/2013), directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda, will also be screened on April 28 at 7pm. The film is about Ryota, a successful Tokyo architect who works long hours to provide for his wife, Midori and six-year-old son, Keita. But when a blood test reveals Keita and another baby were switched at birth, two very different families are thrown together and forced to make a difficult decision while Ryota confronts his own issues of responsibility and what it means to be a father. The film won the Jury Prize at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Qumra Master Andrey Zvyagintsev, ‘The Return’ (Russia/2003) will be screened on April 29 at 7pm.  Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the film is about inseparable, if occasionally difficult, young Ivan and his elder brother Andrei, who are shocked and excited when their father, who has not been home for 12 years returns out of the blue. The morning after his arrival, he takes his sons on a fishing trip, but what might be expected to be an epic bonding experience turns out to be anything but.

Tickets are priced QR35 per person; students and holders of Culture Pass by Qatar Museums can purchase at a discounted rate of QR25. A package, priced QR75, will provide access to all five screenings and can be purchased online at www.dohafilminstitute.com.