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With “Mary Shelley,” Woman Behind Monster Directed by Woman Behind Camera

INTERVIEW with Haifaa Al Mansour
Ben Hardy, Elle Fanning and Maisie Williams

There were many films at the Tribeca Festival, many about women, and many others directed by women. “Mary Shelley,” starring Elle Fanning, is not only both, but perhaps was one of the best films at this year’s Tribeca Festival, which ended recently. As the title suggests, "Mary Shelley" tells the story of the nineteenth century-author who penned the horror classic “Frankenstein.” And in a case of ... more >

WADJDA demands to be noticed (here’s why)

There's Oscar chatter in the air
Waad Mohammed and Reem Abdullah
Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour

The most striking aspect of “Wadjda” isn’t so much that it’s the first movie filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia, a country bereft of movie theatres, or that it is the product of a female writer and director (Haifaa al-Mansour): it’s that it manages to make the viewer forget these achievements thanks to its elegant plot and the understated, admirable performances of its actors. Set in a suburb of ... more >