Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story (2009)

From 1001 Nights

Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story (2009) is a film from Egypt featuring a contemporary Egyptian retelling of some (it seems!) aspects of the Nights.

NYT review: http://movies.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/movies/scheherazade-tell-me-a-story-review.html

"A TV Host Seeks Fluff, but Real Life Intrudes
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
Published: August 11, 2011

Resetting “The Arabian Nights” in modern-day Cairo, “Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story” presents an environment of oppressive politics and repressed women.

There’s nothing stifling, however, about Wahid Hamed’s razor-sharp screenplay or Yousry Nasrallah’s exuberant direction. Repurposing the soapy structure and gaudy style of Egyptian melodrama, both men cleverly expose a society hobbled by fear of female autonomy. Central to the story is Hebba (Mona Zakki), a popular talk-show host whose preening new husband, Karim (Hassan El Raddad), wants her to abandon the political criticism she favors until he wins a coveted promotion at his state-run job.

To please him Hebba switches to what she believes will be fluff pieces on the lives of regular women. Her strategy backfires (in a canny reversal of the Scheherazade fable) when each successive real-life account evolves into an ever-more-horrifying struggle against legally sanctioned male entitlement. In the Arab world even love, it seems, is political."

Pola Negri - Sumurun / One Arabian Night (1920)

Here's a poster from the film Sumurun aka One Arabian Night (1920) with Pola Negri.

From 1001 Nights

Axe Bahia - Ali Baba (Tres Deseos)

Your popular culture Nights fix of the week comes from the formidable continent of South America, the pop band Axe Bahia of Brazil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ax%C3%A9_Bahia) sings (and dances to) "Ali Baba (Tres Deseos)" ("Three Wishes"):

Arabian Nights Dinner Show, Orlando Florida

The Arabian Nights takes center stage in Orlando Florida, as a sort of horse-themed show which you are supposed to watch while you eat dinner.  I haven't been yet!

Here is a video someone made with some Matrix inspired beats:



Here is their website in case you ever find yourself in Orlando:

http://www.arabian-nights.com/

And from the site!:

"Scheherazade is joined by her father’s genie Abra Cadabra and her own young genie Hocus Pocus, whose magic grows stronger with each spell to entertain the princess. Hocus and Abra bring many of Scheherazade’s favorite childhood tales to life in an effort to both entertain her and improve Hocus’ magical skills.

On this magical night, Scheherazade also learns that the prince of her dreams, Prince Khalid, is real and that he also dreams of finding her."