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documentary

Political thriller from real-life Egypt

ARAB FILM DAYS: Tarik Saleh: Boy from heaven
"Boy from Heaven" is first and foremost a well-composed suspense film, but at the same time gives an exciting insight into religious environments and political lines of conflict in today's Egypt.

With hope for Africa

ENVIRONMENT: Volker Schlöndorff: The Forest Maker
"It's about changing people's mindset," says Volker Schlöndorff (83) to MODERN TIMES. The veteran German director himself describes his film about agronomist Tony Rinaudo's reconstruction of forests in Africa as propaganda.

The guardianless faces

IRAN: Ali Abbasi: holy spider
This is a political film that has chosen the thriller genre to exercise sharp social criticism against Iran. Like many of today's protesters in the country, the people behind the film were met with death threats and hate messages from the Iranian regime.

Actual and imagined boundaries

FILM FROM THE SOUTH: Jafar Panahi: No Bears
Jafar Panahi's "No Bears" is a strong film in itself, but gains even greater impact in light of the situation the now imprisoned Iranian filmmaker is in.

The political satire

Oslo Pix: Ruben Östlund: Triangle of Sadness
With Palme d'Or winner Triangle of Sadness, Swedish Ruben Östlund is even more bitingly satirical – and more directly political – than before.

The role model who fell

Elizabeth Meriwether: TV SERIES: The Dropout