? AT THE MOVIES-

We’ll be honest — we didn’t expect to enjoy The Little Mermaid.Disney’s weaponization of nostalgia has resulted in lackluster live-action remakes of our childhood favorites, such as the infamously drab the Lion King, the purpose of which seem to center the advancement of CGI… and inadvertently its poverty as a medium. So walking into the theater, we had everything but high hopes for this unnecessarily controversial movie, especially one with over two hours of runtime.

In a surprising turn of events, we found ourselves pleasantly entertained by the movie, which was bolstered by faithful but fresh renditions of the original’s musical numbers, and stellar performances, especially by Halle Bailey as golden-voiced Ariel and Melissa McCarthy as the sinister yet charming Ursula. And while she had maybe less than five minutes of screentime, human-form Ursula, played by up-and-coming Jessica Alexander, gave one of the most convincing and compelling performances throughout the whole film. The characters and their backstories on a whole are fleshed out, adding context and emotional payoff, ultimately justifying the longer runtime.

It wasn’t without its downfalls: We can’t help but think that they could’ve captured a little more of the classic Disney magic if the animal companions (Daveed Diggs’ Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay’s Flounder, and Awkwafina’s Scuttle) hadn’t been so terrifyingly photorealistic.

WHERE TO WATCH-The Little Mermaid is showing at VOX Cinemas in City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, Citystars’Stars Cinema, and Cairo Festival City’s Galaxy Cinema.

Hope and friendship in the midst of an occupation: In her 2022 film MediterraneanFever, which debuted at Cannes 2022 and was awarded the prize for best screenplay, director Maha Haj depicts Palestinian lives a little differently than we’re used to. While most Palestinian narratives center the ongoing Nakba directly, Haj decides to depict the quotidian lives of two Palestinian men — Waleed (played by Amer Hlehel), a Haifa-based writer who does not write, and Jalal (played by Ashraf Farah), a low-level criminal and Waleed’s new neighbor. The Nakba’s sinister reality colors their lives, but does not define them.

Personal and political: While the overarching theme is Waleed’s struggle with depression, we can see the effect of ethnic cleansing peppered throughout his life in small bites: reminding his daughter to speak in Arabic instead of Hebrew, walking past buildings destroyed by Israeli bombs, tragic newsreels playing in the background. All of these issues, coupled with his depression, cause Waleed to contemplate suicide. Enter Jalal, whose friendship with Waleed develops despite Waleed’s reluctance to form a connection, and their camaraderie provides both of them, as well as the audience, a bit of reprieve from the hopelessness that surrounds them. Though if there was any question as to whether this is still a political film, Haj dedicates the movie to murdered journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

WHERE TO WATCH- This film is showing on Saturday, 3 May at 7pm as part of Zawya’s Cairo Cinema Days festival. You can book your tickets online to secure a seat.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is an adventurous story of self-discovery:When 69-year-old Arthur’s wife Miriam passes away, he tries to navigate the murky waters of grief by steadfastly adhering to his daily routine. Isolated and separated from their children by distance, Arthur grapples with loneliness before he finds a curious piece of jewelry among his wife’s things on the anniversary of her death, leading him on a quest to unravel truths about his wife — and himself. The protagonist’s trips around the world — and his humor and the friendships he makes along the way — make this a perfect feelgood read, Pam Norfolk writes for the Lancashire Post.

WHERE TO BUY IT- You can purchase a copy from any Diwan branch, depending on availability, or add it to your online cart and select a branch from which to pick it up.

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? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

The country’s largest piece of chicken schnitzel can be found at Clucks:Located in New Cairo, this restaurant prides itself for being a chicken diner with a ‘70s retro-vibe. The menu is chicken-mania: wings, drumsticks, and tenders along with eight sauces to mix and match for your dipping pleasure. The peri peri sauce is a favorite — but tread carefully if you’re not used to a spicy kick — and the mysterious Clucks sauce is also delicious. If you’re going with some friends, or you’re extraordinarily hungry, we recommend the family meal for four which gives you a sampling of everything. If your children are picky eaters, the kids menu boasts all-time favorites like pasta with white, red, or bolognese sauce. For dessert, we had a hard time picking between the caramel tres leches and lotus cakes. But we opted for the lotus, and we surely did not regret it.

Pro-tip: Thursdays are “all-you-can-eat” wing nights. See you there?

? Per person: 350-500

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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