A still from the film Dreams of the City.
Doha: Doha Film Institute (DFI) in partnership with the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) held successful screenings of the multi-awarded film Dreams of the City helmed by prominent Syrian filmmaker Mohamad Malas.
Held at the MIA Auditorium on Thursday, the three free-for-the-public screenings marked the premiere of the MIA Exhibition Series for the museum’s ongoing ‘Syria Matters’ exhibition which marks MIA’s 10th anniversary.
The series presents a selection of films on Syria within the duration of the exhibition running until April.
Moviegoers enjoyed the two-hour long coming-of-age film set against the backdrop of the political upheavals of the 1950s. Released over three decades ago, the film tells the story of Dib, which unfolds when his father dies, prompting his family to move away from their hometown of Quneitra to Damascus.
Overwhelmed by the magic of the city, Dib wants to discover everything and is full of dreams, but his daily life is shaped by insults and punishments. He loses his childish illusions in the face of the violence and brutality during a turbulent period in Syria’s history, thus his dreams of the city prove to be a nightmare.
Mohammad Malas’ partly autobiographical debut film, which he both wrote and directed, marked a key transition in Syrian cinema. Dreams of the City won the first prize both at the Valencia and the Carthage Film Festivals, and earned Honorable Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival. Malas, born in 1945 in Quneitra on the Golan Heights, went on to direct several documentary and feature films that garnered international recognition.
Meanwhile, visitors can see more than 120 objects at the “Syria Matters” exhibition at MIA’s Special Exhibitions Gallery until end of April.
Presented as part of MIA’s “commitment to safeguarding the rich culture that has been tragically lost in the civil war,” the exhibition sheds light on Syria’s rich architectural and cultural history with objects displayed dating back as far as the country’s early pre-Islamic period up to its contributions to modern history.
Visitors to the exhibition are taken on a journey through time and space featuring immersive and innovative digital renderings of Syria’s key heritage sites including Damascus, Aleppo and Palmyra, much of which was left in ruins because of the seven-year-long civil war.
Apart from film screenings, other events are being held in line with the exhibition such as performances, lectures, workshops, family activities and book discussions.
Among the unique events and activities held to complement the exhibit were the performance of Home Within by Syrian musician Kinan Azmeh and Syrian Armenian artist Kevork Mourad and the setting up of a small version of Syria’s famous Souq Al Hamediya at MIA Park.
