Part romance, part drama and part political commentary, the film directed by Najwa Najjar made its world premiere at DIFF 2008 before going on to success and receiving rave reviews at the Sundance, Rotterdam, Edinburgh, Durban, Locarno, Berlin, Cannes and other global festivals in addition to special screenings across the United States.
It will screen in the UAE next month as part of the Dubai International Film Festival’s year-round support of quality independent Arab cinema. In Dubai, the film will screen from Sept. 1 to 14 at The Picturehouse in Dubai Mall; and at Vox Cinemas in Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi, from Sept. 15 to 28. The film is distributed by Founoon Film Distribution.
Set in Ramallah this decade, "Pomegranates and Myrrh" narrates the story of a dancer whose husband is imprisoned after he defends her from an attack by a settler.
In his absence and faced with the threat of land confiscation, she seeks to regain her lifelong love of dance — and in so doing meets a Palestinian returnee and choreographer. The film stars veterans of Arab cinema Hiam Abbas, Yassmine Al Massri, Ali Suleiman and Ashraf Farah.
Critics around the world have applauded the film’s first-rate acting, screenwriting and cinematography.