'Mariam' anthem to women and hope for peace in Syria

The film "Mariam," by filmmaker Bassil El-Khatib, representing Syria in the category of feature films in competition at the 7th Oran Festival of Arab Film (FOFA), comes by its content as an anthem to Syrian women and a hope for peace in Syria. A large audience attended late Thursday the screening at the Maghreb Hall (formerly Regent) to discover this recent work of El-Khatib which tells a century of Syrian history through the lives, at different times, of three women each bearing the name Mariam. The screening was held in the presence of the director and actors who played in this dramatic genre feature film, including Assaad Fedha, Dima Kandalaft, Sabah Jazaeri and El-Mayssoun Abou Saad. Bassil El-Khatib said in this context that the shooting of the film took place in difficult conditions with regard to the situation in his country. Born in 1962, the director of Palestinian origin followed film studies in a specialized institute in Moscow (Russia) before starting his artistic career in film, theater and television. His filmography includes several short films and series such as "El ghaliboun" and "Nizar Qabbani" in tribute of the famous Syrian poet (1923-1998). Son of Palestinian poet Youssef El-Khatib (1931-2011), the director of "Mariam" also wrote poems. Following the screening, Jury President Algerian filmmaker Ahmed Rachedi welcomed the "viewing conditions during this festival."