Review, Sydney Film Festival: Cairo Time

One of the quiet gems of this year’s Sydney Film Festival lineup is this luminous feature from writer/director Ruba Nadda (Sabeh).

Landing in a land polar opposite to her own, American magazine editor Juliette (Patricia Clarkson, The Station Agent) arrives in the oppressive heat of Cairo. Already seemingly on edge in this foreign city, Juliette, expecting to be reunited with her husband Mark, a United Nations diplomatic, is instead met by his former colleague Tareq (Alexander Siddig, Syriana). Fearing the worst, Juliette is reassured by Tareq that Mark has simply been waylaid in Palestine.

Her plans in disarray, Juliet is set adrift in Cairo’s bustling streets, acutely aware of her fish-out-of-water status – her statuesque figure and alabaster skin attract the sexually aggressive intimidation of local young men like moths to a flame.

With the haze of jetlag subsiding, Tareq gives Juliette an insider’s tour of Cairo, her mental and physical pulse slowly adjusting to the city’s own. As each day passes, Juliette frets for her husband yet a mutual attraction between her and Tareq grows, a gentle romance barely acknowledged by words.

There are many joys to be found in Cairo Time, anchored by two pitch perfect, award-worthy performances from Clarkson and Siddig. Clarkson has a knack of embodying each character she plays, etching every emotion with subtlety and depth. Siddig is truly charming as the kind-eyed, gentlemanly Tareq. Their romance, while unconventional and not without gentle conflict, harks back to those of vintage Hollywood.

Meanwhile Cairo, the third star of the piece has perhaps never looked more inviting on film, its hustle-and-bustle and romantic visages of pyramids and cruising down the Nile, like a cinematic love letter to the city. This is perfectly complimented by depictions of the city’s people and culture. On that point, Juliette’s cultural faux pas – early in the film she compliments Tareq’s traditional “dress” – are not writ large with the cringe-worthy crassness of a stereotypical American abroad but serve as humorous counterpoints.

Much more than simply a postcard, Cairo Time depicts the cultural threads of the city respectfully, a credit to Nadda’s Arabic heritage no doubt, while also acknowledging the political tensions of the wider region.

Most of all, it’s a charming, poignant portrayal of a love deeply felt, despite cultural barriers and the unexpected bitter-sweetness of fate.