#May el Toukhy

[folditdouble]

Women in Film Challenge 2024: [81/52] Queen of Hearts, dir. May el-Toukhy (Denmark/Sweden, 2019)

You think I'm a monster.

[filmreveries]

“Sometimes what happens and what must never happen are the same thing.”

Queen of Hearts (2019) dir. May el-Toukhy

[boardchairman-blog]

**Shots of the Episode**

The Crown (2016)

Season 6, Episode 7: “Alma Mater” (2023) Director: May el-Toukhy Cinematographer: Rasmus Videbæk

[tv-moments]

The Crown

Season 6, “Alma Mater”

Director: May el-Toukhy

DoP: Rasmus Videbæk

[bisonteinvencible]

Dronningen, May el-Toukhy, 2019

[philippebresson]

Angot, Breillat, et moi, et moi...

Christine Angot a le mérite de savoir d'où elle parle, et c'est ce qui fait pour moi sa qualité.

Je ne sais pas ce que Catherine Breillat dit sur son film "L'été dernier", et à la limite je m'en fiche. C'est son film qui m'a parlé. Ému. Touché. Dérangé. Bouleversé.

Je suis sans doute l'un des "esthètes" que pointe du doigt C. Angot dans sa "critique" du fim. Oui, sans aucun doute. Et je l'assume.

C. Angot m'intéresse et me touche, mais peut-être parfois mélange-t-elle différentes choses, différents "plans", différents sujets ; le film de C. Breillat n'est pas un film à thèse sur l'inceste, loin de là, pas plus que "Théorème" de Pasolini n'en est un, même si toute la famille - italienne et bourgeoise - finit par coucher avec le même homme (climat incestuel plutôt qu'inceste dans le théorème de P.).

Le film de Breillat ne nous dit pas que c'est bien ou beau de coucher avec son jeune beau-fils. Il montre les choses telles qu'elles sont dans cette histoire-là, dans cette famille-là, la vérité complexe de ces personnages-là, de cette fiction-là. Sans jugement sur l'un ou l'autre des personnages, sans encouragement à les imiter non plus, sous prétexte que l'image serait belle, que la lumière serait belle, car en effet elle irradie !

"Familia Grande" (cité par Angot) parlait de "l'affaire Kouchner" ; il s'agit d'un récit autobiographique avec des personnes impliquées (qui ne sont pas des personnages de fiction), des plaignants, un ou des accusés, des complices.

Je ne crois pas que le scénario de C. Breillat et Pascal Bonitzer ("L'été dernier" est un remake du film danois "Dronningen" réalisé par May el-Toukhy en 2019 et jamais sorti en France), repose sur le témoignage intime d'un homme incesté durant son adolescence. Nous ne sommes pas non plus dans la transposition d'un fait divers à l'écran. Pas plus, dans un autre registre, que pour Médée, Œdipe, Antigone (Antigone n'est pas incestueuse, mais elle est le fruit d'un inceste), ou Phèdre (qui avoue à sa nourrice son amour coupable pour Hippolyte, son beau-fils, fils de Thésée).

D'une certaine manière, le plaidoyer de C. Angot me rappelle la fameuse polémique autour du film de Cyril Collard "Les nuits fauves" ; à l'époque certains lui reprochaient de montrer un personnage qui, se sachant séropo, couchait avec une jeune fille qu'il aimait, sans préservatif et sans qu'elle soit informée de sa séropositivité. Mais depuis quand un film de fiction devrait-il assumer le rôle d'une campagne de prévention ou de sensibilisation ?

Quand Almodovar réalise avec "Parle avec elle" l'un de ses longs-métrages les plus aboutis - Eros et Thanatos dans une chambre d'hôpital, le tout filmé par un cinéaste qui touche avec ce film à la perfection absolue -, je ne me demande pas si cet homme a raison d'avoir une relation sexuelle avec une femme qui est dans le coma. Ça me dérange certes, mais je ne suis ni cet homme, ni cette femme, ni l'un des membres du personnel hospitalier. C'est la vérité de cette histoire et de ces personnages qui m'intéresse.

Connaissant (comme nous tous) son histoire personnelle, je peux comprendre le malaise de C. Angot face au film de C. Breillat ; et son point de vue, sa prise de position, m'intéressent. Elle pique l'esthète en moi à un endroit où, volontiers funambule sur le fil qui relie fond et forme, je pourrais parfois me sentir en déséquilibre. Mais encore une fois, je n'attends pas d'une oeuvre artistique qu'elle s'autocensure dans son propos, dans son processus de création, et quel que soit le sujet dont elle se fait, in fine, l'objet (filmique ici).

Est-ce que la relation du personnage de Léa Drucker avec son jeune beau-fils de dix-sept ans dans "L'été dernier" de Catherine Breillat banalise le climat incestuel, la relation incestueuse ? Je ne le crois pas. Elle nous montre au contraire que le crime (presque) parfait se passe sous nos yeux, dans la chambre d'à côté, et que la vie est ainsi faite qu'elle mérite, en dehors des salles de cinéma j'entends, que nous lui accordions la plus grande vigilance.

Philippe Bresson

[tilbageidanmark]

Movies I watched this Week #136 (Year 3/Week 32):

The outside man, my second thriller by Frenchman Jacques Deray (after the so much better ‘La Piscine’). So much wasted potential in this early 1970's mobster out of water tale, which was co-written by Jean Claude Carrière. Jean-Louis Trintignant is a hit-man sent to Beverly Hills to assassinate a big gangster, but Roy Scheider is another killer on his tail, so they chase each other all over, with Ann-Margaret, Angie Dickinson, 'Moe Green' and 'Russ Yelburton' mixing it up.

It serves up a very touristy picture of 1972 Los Angeles (which is nice), and it also has some plot twists which clearly inspired later films. Most notably, some very distinct scenes from 'Three days of the condor' (The kidnapping of a random female with her car, the tense sharing of an elevator between the chaser and his pray, too tired to fall asleep...). Also the mob funeral procession from 'Godfather'. So this forgotten film was hugely influential at the time. 3/10.

🍿

2 with Denholm Elliott:

🍿 In 2014, Steven Soderbergh re-edited 'Raiders of the lost ark' in order to show how brilliant Spielberg's 'Staging' was; how the shots are built and laid out, what the rules of movement are, what the cutting patterns are. The result was Raiders, a black-and-white version of the original, stripped of its colors, music and dialogue, and with a new, electronic score by Trent Reznor.

Found it on a video essay by CinemaStix, When the director is really good at their job.

Also there: When the director prioritizes character over plot, about Soderbergh's Ocean 11.

🍿 I should have watched William Friedkin’s ‘sorcerer’ (Photo Above) for the first time, but instead I picked his subpar 1968 The night they raided Minsky’s, a lame shtick about an Amish girl who discovers burlesque in 1925 New York. Even dancing-singing Jason Robards can’t saves it. 1/10.

RIP, William Friedkin!

🍿

Long story short, my second drama by talented May el-Toukhy, a Danish-Egyptian female director (made before her complex erotic thriller 'Queen of heart'). A group of friends in their 30's and 40's going through love, heartbreaks and life changes, told in 8-parts which are broken into celebrations: birthdays, weddings, christening and mid-summer parties.

🍿

6 Spanish-speaking movies:

🍿 Marshland ("La isla Minima") swept the 2014 Spanish Goya awards, and won in 10 categories. It's a slow-burn procedural Noir about two policemen from Madrid who are send to the backward South to investigate the disappearance of two girls. Before 'True detective', it created a different, atmospheric world. 8/10.

🍿 Death of a cyclist, a classic Spanish Noir from 1955 by J.A. Bardem (Javier's uncle), rich and dramatic. A high society married woman cheating on her husband kills a random man on a deserted road while driving with her lover. A different Hitchcokian murder mystery, made more interesting by Bardem's leftist politics vis-a-vis the Franco censorship of his time. 7/10.

🍿 The Chambermaid, another exploration of South American domestic workers, the silent and invisible service multitudes, that movies don't usually pay attention to. A shy and introverted cleaning lady at an upscale Mexico City hotel has a hard time trying to find a voice, however small.

This was a debut feature by a young filmmaker Lila Avilés. I can't wait for her new, acclaimed Tótem. The trailer. 7/10.

🍿 Wild tales is the most-seen Argentine film of all time, and deservedly so. A hilarious, unexpected anthology, comprising of 6 unrelated stories of 'People under stress': 2 passengers on a plane discover that they both know a person named Gabriel Pasternak, a waitress at a night restaurant serves a loan shark who had destroyed her life, a wild road rage incident that escalates, the car of a demolition expert is being towed away, a rich teenager had a hit and run, and the funnest, a fancy Jewish wedding which goes off the rails.

Absurdist black humor, the most entertaining movie of the week! 9/10.

🍿 The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz, my 14th film by Buñuel, 'The Scourge of the Bourgeoisie'. On its surface, it's a normal 1950's Mexican drama about a serial killer, but it's not: it's kinky, off kilter, unpredictable, and always with an extra artificial leg or two that falls off.

🍿 Kiki was made by Paco León ("The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent"). It's another funny anthology film, a remake of an Australian film 'The little death' which I'll watch next week. It's an hilarious kinky comedy with 5 or 6 separate sets of characters exploring their deep desires and (less common) fetishes: One woman is turned on by tears, another by the touch of silk, one by being physically attacked, one sells her used underwear, three are getting into a polyamory. It's explicit, light and funny. Not for prudes. 8/10.

🍿

My first 2 by Georges Franju:

🍿 Franju was the co-funder of the Cinémathèque Française in 1936 (together with Henri Langlois). His scary Eyes without a face was the first French horror movie. A monstrous, mad surgeon who tortures dogs and cut off women's faces, in order to find a suitable graft for his disfigured daughter. Morbid poetry.

🍿 Blood of the beasts (Le Sang des Bêtes) was Franju's first film, a stark, non-sentimental documentary about a slaughterhouse. Contrasting scenes from the Parisian suburbs with the most horrifying matter-of-fact killings of horses, cows and sheep, is a study in surrealism. 8/10.

🍿

The Runaways, a run of the mill pop music biography, the story of Joan Jett and her first all-girls rock'n'roll band. These bios are all alike, and even Kristen Stewart and Michael Shannon can't redeem it. (It's my 3rd woman-directed film this week). 3/10.

🍿

Ali Wong X 3, again:

🍿 OK, so I'm crazy about Ali Wong's dirty humor, so sue me. Still, I will watch her Hard Knock Wife comedy special again and again. Best female comedian!

🍿 The Hero, a tender 'End of life' story, with golden-voiced Sam Elliott as an aging western star who discovers he has incurable cancer. He starts a sweet romance with the wonderful actress Laura Prepon, and has to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Great cinema, that could have been perfect if only there was just another small layer to draw from. 8/10.

Anyway, I am going to look for indie director Brett Haley's other films. Ali Wong played herself in a single stand-up comedy scene.

🍿 “… I have orgasms. He has wargasms…”

Savages is a top-tier Oliver Stone action-thriller about some hip pot growers in Laguna Beach who has to fight a brutal Mexican cartel operators. Loud and exciting, similar to Tarantino's 'True Romance' but faster, and with Blake Lively in a loving threesome with 2 dudes. Ali Wong appeared only in one scene as an underground hacker. 7/10.

🍿

No hard feelings, a new sex comedy ("Do you mind if I touch your wiener... dog?"), where Jennifer Lawrence is hired to deflower a 'Superbad'-era Michael Cera-type, because she's broke. Some cliched sitcoms jokes about the 1%-ers in Montauk, NY vs. ordinary people. And for that she came out of retirement? 3/10.

🍿

"Editing is all about the eyes". Another old 'Every frame a picture' essay, How Does an Editor Think and Feel?

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Reflections on the 70th Anniversary of the Danish Rescue of the Jews: Talk at the American-Scandinavian Foundation about why the Danish Jews were saved.

🍿  

(My complete movie list is here)

[thecrownnet]

Emmy Awards 2023: FYC

“Netflix has just updated its FYC campaign site, giving us the full list of titles they’ve submitted and will campaign for in the forthcoming 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.” (whats-on-netflix) Netflix is submitting The Crown season 5 for the following categories.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION 

PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES - IMELDA STAUNTON AS QUEEN ELIZABETH II

OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - DOMINIC WEST AS PRINCE CHARLES

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES - ELIZABETH DEBICKI AS PRINCESS DIANA, and LESLEY MANVILLE AS PRINCESS MARGARET

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - JONATHAN PRYCE AS PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH, SALIM DAW AS MOHAMED AL FAYED, and JONNY LEE MILLER AS JOHN MAJOR

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES - CLAIRE FOY AS YOUNG QUEEN ELIZABETH II, VANESSA KIRBY AS YOUNG PRINCESS MARGARET, and NATASCHA MCELHONE AS PENNY KNATCHBULL

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES - ALEX JENNINGS AS DUKE OF WINDSOR, TIMOTHY DALTON AS PETER TOWNSEND, PRASANNA PUWANARAJAH AS MARTIN BASHIR, and KHALID ABDALLA  AS DODI FAYED

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES "IPATIEV HOUSE" CHRISTIAN SCHWOCHOW, "GUNPOWDER" ERIK RICHTER STRAND, "MOU MOU" ALEX GABASSI, and "ANNUS HORRIBILIS" MAY EL-TOUKHY

OUTSTANDING WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES  "GUNPOWDER" PETER MORGAN

OUTSTANDING CASTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES ROBERT STERNE

OUTSTANDING CINEMATOGRAPHY FOR A SERIES (ONE HOUR) "NO WOMAN’S LAND" BEN WILSON, and "MOU MOU" ADRIANO GOLDMAN (ASC)

OUTSTANDING MUSIC COMPOSITION FOR A SERIES (ORIGINAL DRAMATIC SCORE) MARTIN PHIPPS

OUTSTANDING MUSIC SUPERVISION SARAH BRIDGE

OUTSTANDING PERIOD COSTUMES AMY ROBERTS, SIDONIE ROBERTS, CHRISTOF ROCHE-GORDON

OUTSTANDING PICTURE EDITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES "COUPLE 31" RICHARD GRAHAM, "MOU MOU" DANIEL GREENWAY, "IPATIEV HOUSE" SIMON BRASSE, and "GUNPOWDER" AMY HOUNSELL

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION DESIGN FOR A NARRATIVE PERIOD OR FANTASY PROGRAM (ONE HOUR OR MORE) MARTIN CHILDS, MARK RAGGETT, ALISON HARVEY

OUTSTANDING SOUND EDITING FOR A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES (ONE HOUR) "GUNPOWDER" LEE WALPOLE (MPSE), IAIN EYRE, ANDY KENNEDY, SAOIRSE CHRISTOPHERSON, MATTHEW MEWETT, TOM STEWART, ANNA WRIGHT

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING FOR A COMEDY OR DRAMA SERIES (ONE HOUR) "MOU MOU" LEE WALPOLE (MPSE), MARTIN JENSEN, STUART HILLIKER (CAS), JAMES HARRIS

OUTSTANDING SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS IN A SINGLE EPISODE BEN TURNER, REECE EWING

OUTSTANDING STUNT COORDINATION FOR A DRAMA SERIES, LIMITED OR ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR MOVIE ANDY BENNETT

*The Crown has received 63 Emmy Nominations and won 21 times for the past four seasons. Claire Foy won twice for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series - 2018, and Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series - 2021. The show won Outstanding Drama Series - 2021.

** June 15 - 26 Nominations-round voting

*** July 12 Nominations announced.

[angelariasdominguez]

§ 3.532. Reina de corazones (May el-Toukhy, 2019)

MIÉRCOLES, 16 DE OCTUBRE DE 2024

 

Una de "En brazos de la mujer madura", que era un relato muy en boga en los años en los que era joven. 

Tiene pretensiones, es dura, muy real -aunque no lo parezca- y seguramente muestra una circunstancia más común de lo que en principio pudiera suponerse. No es una cosa que suceda todos los días, naturalmente, pero tampoco debe ser algo extraño o desusado. 

Primera película que veo de esta directora, una mujer muy interesante.

La ambientación, los decorados, el diseño de producción están muy bien conseguidos y la tensión emocional va adquiriendo cotas cada vez mayores. No es un Thriller, ni nada parecido, ni tampoco una película policíaca, pero tiene un ritmo similar en algunos momentos, siendo la presencia inquietante del muchacho la clave de todo.

Hay algo de segundas oportunidades, de recobrar el tiempo perdido mediante un amor que reverdezca los laureles, que sea capaz de romper con la rutina, con las obediencias debidas para con el trabajo, la familia, la vida social. Creo que todo el mundo en algún momento de su vida ha pensado en "mandarlo todo al carajo",  y empezar de nuevo a ventanas de kilómetros, sin pasado, sin pretensiones, sin futuro

Me ha parecido interesante, sin más. No creo que estemos en presencia de una obra magna, ni mucho menos. Tiene ese corte de formato "indi" que tanto gusta al público en general.

[medical-car]

Neck Pain Treatment in Dubai: Finding Relief with Expert Care

Neck pain is a common ailment that can significantly impact daily life and hinder productivity. In Dubai, individuals dealing with neck pain have access to specialized care from expert healthcare providers dedicated to providing effective treatment options. Dr. Sherief El Sayed, a renowned specialist in pain management, offers comprehensive neck pain treatment in Dubai aimed at addressing the underlying causes and providing relief from discomfort.

Understanding Neck Pain and Its Causes

Neck pain can stem from various factors, including poor posture, muscle strain, degenerative conditions, and traumatic injuries. The discomfort can range from mild to severe and may be accompanied by stiffness, restricted movement, and headaches. Timely evaluation and diagnosis are essential for determining the root cause of neck pain and developing an appropriate treatment plan.

Evaluation and Diagnosis

Dr. Sherif El Sayed employs a thorough evaluation process to accurately diagnose neck pain and identify contributing factors. Through detailed assessments and diagnostic tests, including imaging studies if necessary, Dr. El Sayed aims to pinpoint the specific cause of neck pain and tailor treatment accordingly.

Multidisciplinary Treatment Approach

Neck pain treatment in Dubai follows a multidisciplinary approach, combining various modalities to address pain and improve overall neck health. Treatment options may include medication management, physical therapy, interventional procedures, and lifestyle modifications.

Medication Management

Dr. Sherief El Sayed carefully evaluates each patient's symptoms and medical history to prescribe appropriate medications for pain management. Medications may include pain relievers, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and topical treatments to alleviate discomfort and promote healing.

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Physical therapy plays a crucial role in neck pain treatment, focusing on strengthening neck muscles, improving flexibility, and restoring range of motion. Dr. El Sayed collaborates with skilled physical therapists to develop tailored exercise programs and manual therapy techniques to address specific neck issues and alleviate pain.

Interventional Procedures

In cases where conservative treatments are not sufficient, Dr. Mohamed El Toukhy may recommend interventional procedures to provide targeted pain relief. These minimally invasive procedures, such as nerve blocks and epidural injections, aim to reduce inflammation and disrupt pain signals to the brain, offering significant relief from neck pain.

Lifestyle Modifications

Dr. El Sayed emphasizes the importance of lifestyle modifications in managing neck pain effectively. This may include ergonomic adjustments, posture correction, stress management techniques, and adopting healthy habits to prevent exacerbation of symptoms and promote long-term neck health.

Patient Education and Support

Dr. Sherief El Sayed provides comprehensive education and support to his patients, empowering them to actively participate in their neck pain treatment journey. By understanding their condition, treatment options, and self-care strategies, patients can better manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

Conclusion

Neck pain treatment in Dubai, under the expert care of Dr. Sherief El Sayed, offers hope and relief to individuals suffering from neck discomfort. Through a multidisciplinary approach, personalized treatment plans, and compassionate care, Dr. El Sayed helps patients find relief from neck pain and regain control over their lives. Seeking timely evaluation and treatment from a skilled specialist is essential for optimal outcomes and improved neck health.

[lostgoonie1980]

24. Rainha de Copas (Dronningen, 2019), dir.ª May el-Toukhy

[fuckyeahwomenfilmdirectors]

November 2019 U.S. Releases Directed by Women

November 1 Harriet dir. Kasi Lemmons (WIDE) Queen of Hearts dir. May el-Toukhy (LIMITED)

November 8 Honey Boy dir. Alma Har’el  (LIMITED) The Kingmaker dir. Lauren Greenfield (LIMITED)

November 13 Mickey and the Bear dir. Annabelle Attanasio (LIMITED)

November 15 Charlie’s Angels dir. Elizabeth Banks (WIDE) The Lodge dir. Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala (LIMITED) The Warrior Queen of Jhansi dir. Swati Bhise (LIMITED)

November 22 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood dir. Marielle Heller (WIDE) Frozen II dir. Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee (WIDE)

November 27  Queen & Slim dir. Melina Matsoukas (WIDE)

[boardchairman-blog]

**Shots of the Episode**

The Crown (2016)

Season 5, Episode 5: “The Way Ahead” (2022) Director: May el-Toukhy Cinematographer: Rasmus Videbæk

[tv-moments]

The Crown

Season 6, “Willsmania”

Director: May el-Toukhy

DoP: Rasmus Videbæk

[watchingalotofmovies]

Queen of Hearts

Queen of Hearts    [trailer]

A successful lawyer jeopardizes her career and threatens to tear her family apart after engaging in an affair with her teenage stepson.

Does a good job of showing that she has a habit of unprofessional behaviour, but also under how much pressure she is. But that still makes much of her behaviour wrong.

The quickness with which she comes up with the "deal", that she will say nothing about the break-in, is disconcerting. There she crosses the line and is on the path of no return with her self-destructive behaviour.

One of those films that you can maybe admire but are unlikely to like.