Cairo Time

In this touching romantic drama about a brief, unexpected love affair that catches two people by surprise, Patricia Clarkson is radiant as Juliette, a Canadian journalist who arrives in Cairo to meet her husband Mark, a UN official working in Gaza. Mark has been delayed and has sent his Egyptian friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to escort her through the beautiful and exotic city. Starting out on her own, Juliette discovers that Cairo is not an easy place for foreign women to walk alone, and she gradually takes advantage of Tareq's companionship. Exquisitely photographed by Luc Montpellier and unfolding with a refreshing absence of melodrama, Cairo Time manages to capture the virtually wordless process of two souls connecting with each other. Syrian-Canadian director Ruba Nadda has crafted a gentle, low-key romance that evokes a tangible feeling for its location. With Elena Anaya, Tom McCamus, Amina Annabi. Writer/Director: Ruba Nadda. (Canada/Egypt 2009) 89 min.