RIYADH — An array of films exploring the myriad facets of life as seen through the eyes of children will be screened at the fourth Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), the annual cultural celebration of Doha Film Institute, to be held from Nov. 17-24. Spanning diverse narratives and genres, the seven films are powerful creative representations of how the most vulnerable segment of the society — the children — react to the events happening around them. Two films presenting this unique perspective are competing in the Festival's Made in Qatar and Arab Film Competition segments. Jan Xavier Pacle's “Angel in June” narrates the story of 13-year-old Angel, a kind and altruistic girl who busies herself with making the world a better place, despite developing symptoms of a terrible illness.
The film is inspired by real-life events and takes place in the Filipino community in Doha. “Playground Chronicles” by Brahim Fritah follows 10-year-old Brahim, who is increasingly aware of the complexities of the world around him. By setting the simple trials and jubilations of youth against a backdrop of social turmoil, the director imagines what childhood treasures Brahim will take with him into the future. Four films are part of DTFF's Contemporary World Cinema lineup. Aida Begi?'s “Children of Sarajevo” narrates the story of how Rahima, a 23-year-old orphan whose parents perished in wartime, struggles to keep her delinquent younger brother on the right side of the law. Radu Jude's “Everybody in our Family” is the latest offering from the powerhouse of contemporary Romanian cinema. Excellent camerawork and standout performances capture the absurd results of a darkly hilarious family get-together gone terribly wrong. Dominga Sotomayor's “Thursday Till Sunday” is about 10-year-old Lucia, her parents, and brother and their holiday in the north of Chile, which results in broken familial bonds, ending in an emotional farewell and a family in crisis. David Siegel and Scott McGehee's “What Maisie Knew” is a contemporary interpretation of the Henry James novel, a critique of a self-involved divorced couple who thoughtlessly manipulate their young daughter. The story, told entirely from the clever six-year-old's point of view, sees Maisie coming to recognize who really cares for her. Part of the Special Screenings lineup is Majid Majidi's classic “Children of Heaven” which tells the story of Ali, his family and their lives in an impoverished quarter of Tehran. When he accidentally loses his beloved younger sister's only pair of shoes, the children must devise ways to hide the loss from their parents. With an expanded festival format this year, DTFF 2012 will showcase over 87 films from across the globe under distinct themed sections including Arab Film Competition, Made in Qatar, Contemporary World Cinema, Special Screenings and Tribute to Algerian Cinema. — SG
