This past Thursday I went to Cornell Cinema and watched the documentary In the Last Days of the City by Tamer El Said. Before the movie began, El Said gave a brief introduction to himself and the movie. I have never before seen a film with the filmmaker present, so it was a really cool experience to watch a documentary about one’s life, and have the person physically in the room with me. It was also my first time to Cornell Cinema, so it was really cool to be able to experience that.

I found the film very artistic and intriguing. It explores so many themes- war, aging, love, death, friendship, etc. In one of my classes last semester, I read a book and watched a documentary about the Egyptian Revolution of 2011- the time and place in which this film took place. I was happy to have the political background knowledge to the film in order to better understand some of its dynamics. My favorite aspect of the film was its ability to transport me to another place and culture. The whole dialogue is in Arabic and it shows the minimal everyday parts of what life would be like living in Cairo. It shows coffee shops, different homes, dance studios, work places, etc. With little to no exposure to the Arab world, I loved seeing such an intimate part of its culture. El Said’s film is a beautiful portrayal of the continuation of life during a time of turmoil and confusion through the love and bonds of family and friends. I am so glad I was able to see it!