A new Yemeni film in a Paris movie festival [Archives:2006/942/Culture]

The film of Yemeni director Hamid Al-Oqabi is currently taking part in a three-day festival in Paris, France.

“Al-Ritaj Al-Mabhoor” is a film based on a poem, having the same title, by Kuwaiti poet Abdulaziz Su'ood Al-Babutain. The dramatic and cinematic treatment of the film has got critical praise.

Al-Oqabi wrote the scenario of the 35-minute film. It was shot in different areas in Yemen including the historical city of Zabid, Old City of Sana'a, and Dar Al-Hajar.

The technical crew of the film was French. The film starred Sa'di Yonus, Iraqi, Linda Al-Khalidi, a French oriental dancer, and three kids: Abdul-Rahman Al-Oqabi, Tayseer Al-Zabidi and Kadhim Al-Oqabi.

Director Hamid Al-Oqabi says that he tried first to shoot the film in Kuwait, Jordan, and Algeria. Those attempts were foiled due to security concerns and prolonged procedures. Then he decided to come to Yemen.

He narrated his experience with the poem: “I lived in the poem and tried to make it into a short story. Then I reread it and attempted to further dive in it and fly in its atmospheres.”

He put no restrictions on his imagination and eventually arrived at a dramatic treatment. Then came the writing of the scenario which was later referred to the poet himself for remarks. The director then incorporated the poet's observations and rewrote the scenario. “I still read the poem today even after writing the scenario,” he said.

This is his third poem-based film. His first one titled “An Attempt to Write with a Poet's Blood,” was based on a poem by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Maqaleh titled “An Attempt to Write with Al-Khawarij's Blood.” The second film was based on a poem by Sa'di Yosuf titled “The Hymn of Life.”

His future enterprise is expected to be another film based on Baisan Abu Khaled's “Elegies of Insanity.”

Hamid Al-Oqabi was born in the province of Hodeidah, Yemen, in 1972. He is now doing a PhD in France related to aesthetic and theoretical contribution to cinema.
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