What We Are Reading Today: Longing for the Lost Caliphate: A Transregional History
Updated 16 August 2018
Arab News
In her recent book Longing for the Lost Caliphate: A Transregional History, Mona Hassan explores the myriad meanings of the caliphate for Muslims around the world through the analytical lens of two key moments of loss in the thirteenth and twentieth centuries.
Through extensive primary-source research, Hassan explores the rich constellation of interpretations created by religious scholars, historians, musicians, statesmen, poets, and intellectuals, says a review on the Cornell University website.
Hassan fills a scholarly gap regarding Muslim reactions to the destruction of the Abbasid caliphate in Baghdad in 1258 and challenges the notion that the Mongol onslaught signalled an end to the critical engagement of Muslim jurists and intellectuals with the idea of an Islamic caliphate.
She also situates Muslim responses to the dramatic abolition of the Ottoman caliphate in 1924 as part of a longer trajectory of transregional cultural memory, revealing commonalities and differences in how modern Muslims have creatively interpreted and reinterpreted their heritage.
Andrew Garfield says tear-jerker film ‘We Live in Time’ is everyone’s story
Updated 9 sec ago
Shyama Krishna Kumar
DUBAI: It is no secret that Andrew Garfield’s latest movie, John Crowley’s “We Live in Time,” now in cinemas across the Middle East, is a tear-jerker that will pull at your heartstrings from Scene 1.
Beginning with the cancer diagnosis of co-main character Almut (Florence Pugh), the story then follows her back and forth through time to tell the story of her relationship with Tobias (Garfield), from their first encounter after a road accident to the birth of their daughter at a filling station and more.
Grace Delaney, Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh in ‘We Live in Time.’ (Supplied)
“I think the point of this film is that it is everyone’s story,” Garfield told Arab News. “I think after any human being lives a certain amount of time, if they’re lucky, they get to experience terrible loss. And I know that that’s a strange way of phrasing it, but I do see it as a privilege to love deeply and therefore to lose terribly, to lose each other, whether it’s a partner or a mother or a father or a friend.”
While over the past few years Garfield has been on an on-and-off break from filming in an attempt to know himself better, the script from Justine Wright lured him back to set.
“I was in a very peaceful, contemplative place in my life, and reflecting on everything and wanting to be creative, but not necessarily wanting to be on a film set. But then, you know, reading the script, I thought, ‘Oh, this will be a very natural creative process,’” he said.
“There was a certain amount of letting go, but it was a letting go of a different kind. It was a letting go of too much overthinking. It felt like a very natural letting go, getting out of the way of not working too hard, letting the moment define the moment, letting myself be filled up, and trusting that the moment was enough,” said Garfield, who lost his mother to cancer in 2019.
His subsequent journey of self-discovery has further helped his craft as an actor.
“This is one of the privileges of being an actor, I think, being an artist, but particularly about being an actor is that, depending on the roles you get to play, you’re accessing and finding and inhabiting parts of yourself that you didn’t know were there and capabilities that you didn’t know you had. Dark and light, expressive, expansive and destructive and shady. So, yes, I’m definitely drawn to knowing myself as thoroughly as possible,” Garfield said.
“And yeah, I’m definitely seeking out as much of being in authentic relationship to myself, and therefore others, and therefore the world, and therefore my work as possible. And sometimes it’s really, really painful, because there are aspects of myself that I wish I didn’t have, like all of us. But the danger is, I think, if we try to exile those parts of ourselves, we end up being in denial of what we’re capable of, and then we end up really doing damage and electing the wrong people to lead countries, etc.
“So, yeah, it feels important to me to find all of those different parts and own them and welcome them; and therefore be able to govern them and not be governed by them, because they’re just unconscious drives.”
Christina Aguilera, Michael Buble perform at Riyadh’s Joy Awards
Joy Awards are Saudi Arabia’s largest event honoring the Arab world’s leading artists and their achievements
Winners were selected based on public voting through an application launched by the General Entertainment Authority
Updated 26 min 44 sec ago
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: The annual Joy Awards honored Arab talent with musical performances that serenaded a star-studded guest list at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday.
The award show opened with a concert by Christina Aguilera, who performed “The Voice Within” and her hit song “Genie in a Bottle.”
Tunisian model and actress Azza Slimene at the Joy Awards. (AN Photo/Jafer Saleh)
Musical icons Mohammed Abdo and Andrea Bocelli performed together, blending Gulf and Italian sounds.
Lebanese singer Wael Kfoury and Canadian artist Michael Buble collaborated on a striking rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” performed in both English and Arabic. (X, formerly known as Twitter)
Lebanese singer Wael Kfoury and Canadian artist Michael Buble collaborated on a striking rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” performed in both English and Arabic.
Amanda Seyfried, Morgan Freeman and Matthew McConaughey were among the international and local celebrities who showcased their dazzling ensembles on the ceremony’s iconic lavender carpet on Saturday.
Morgan Freeman with business partner Lori McCreary at the Joy Awards. (Getty Images)
As a tribute to her first visit to the Kingdom, US actress Kate Siegel attended the ceremony wearing a pearly white dress with black drapings by Saudi brand Abadia.
“I picked it because I wanted to represent Saudi Arabian designers and fashion, especially here in Riyadh, which is such an upcoming hot spot for Saudi Arabian fashion,” she said.
As a tribute to her first visit to the Kingdom, US actress Kate Siegel attended the ceremony wearing a pearly white dress with black drapings by Saudi brand Abadia. (Getty Images)
Lebanese actress Nawal Kamel arrived in a black and silver studded gown designed by her go-to Lebanese fashion designer, Joelle Nemnum.
“I can’t believe I’m here. I’m very excited to meet the (Saudi) people up close. I know many people from Lebanon but being here and seeing the locals, who are so different and incredible, is amazing. They (Saudis) are so kind and welcoming — they truly lift you up and take care of you. I’m so grateful to be here and to witness the Joy Awards,” she said.
Amanda Seyfried arrived in a fiery red Valentino gown. (Getty Images)
Held at the Kingdom Arena, the Joy Awards are Saudi Arabia’s largest event recognizing and honoring the Arab world’s leading artists and their achievements. The event is part of Riyadh Season and is co-organized by MBC Group.
The winners were selected based on public voting through an application launched by the General Entertainment Authority. The list included candidates across various categories. The nominees were carefully chosen by specialized committees based on their efforts and achievements over the past year.
Simi and Haze Khadra donate SimiHaze Beauty sales to LA fire victims
Updated 18 January 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: US Palestinian beauty entrepreneurs Simi and Haze Khadra, the twin founders of SimiHaze Beauty, are stepping up to support those in need in their Los Angeles community.
This week, the duo announced that 100 percent of all sales generated through their beauty brand will be donated to aid displaced Black and Latino families affected by the recent LA fires.
The contributions will be directed to individual GoFundMe campaigns for families who have lost their homes or been displaced.
In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Simi and Haze highlighted the significance of their connection to Los Angeles, a city they have called “home for the past 14 years.” “Our community means everything to us,” they expressed, emphasizing their commitment to giving back during challenging times.
Their efforts mirror the actions of other public figures, such as The Weeknd, who recently pledged $1 million to support firefighters and residents affected by the wildfires.
In light of the disaster, the singer, born Abel Tesfaye, also postponed a concert at the Rose Bowl as well as the release of his upcoming album.
“Out of respect and concern for the people of Los Angeles County, I am canceling the Rose Bowl concert originally scheduled for January 25th,” he wrote on social media. “My focus remains on supporting the recovery of these communities and aiding its incredible people as they rebuild.”
For Simi and Haze, this initiative reflects the values their beauty brand has embodied since its launch in 2021. Known for their bold and innovative stick-on makeup designs — such as chrome wings and holographic cat-eyes — SimiHaze Beauty quickly gained attention for making statement looks effortless.
The brand later expanded its offerings to include a wider range of products, from lipsticks and bronzing powders to mascaras.
In 2024, they expanded their brand to the Middle East, describing the experience to Arab News as “so surreal.”
“The market has been such a huge goal of ours since we started because we grew up here,” Simi said in a previous interview. “We’re so happy that our products are finally accessible to our amazing followers here.”
Ian McDiarmid, Hideo Ishikawa to headline Middle East Film & Comic Con 2025
Updated 18 January 2025
Arab News
DUBAI: Scottish actor and director Ian McDiarmid, known for his portrayal of Emperor Palpatine in the “Star Wars” saga, has been announced as the first confirmed celebrity guest for the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) 2025.
The region’s largest pop culture event will take place from April 18 to 20, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
In addition to his role as the “Star Wars” saga, McDiarmid is also known for his performances in films such as “Sleepy Hollow” and “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” as well as his extensive work in theater, including his Olivier Award-winning role in “Faith Healer.”
Anime fans are also in for a treat with the announcement of Japan’s leading voice actor, Hideo Ishikawa, best known as the voice of Itachi Uchiha from “Naruto.”
His notable roles include Toyotomi Hideyoshi in “Samurai Warriors,” Kyo-ya Onizuka in “Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero,” Ray Penber and Hideki Ide in “Death Note,” and Squall Leonhart, Auron, and Cait Sith in the “Final Fantasy” series.
Loy Pinheiro, show director of MEFCC said in a statement: “MEFCC 2025 is set to be our most diverse and engaging event yet. From casual fans to devoted collectors, we’ve created an experience that celebrates every aspect of pop culture with something for everyone.”
The event is organized in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi.
Review: ‘Unstoppable’ is a predictable, feel-good outing
Story of Anthony Robles, championship-winning wrestler born with one leg, makes for a satisfying biopic
Updated 18 January 2025
Matt Ross
LONDON: It is easy to forget that, sometimes, all you want from a movie is a healthy dose of good vibes — and few genres are better suited to that than the sports biopic.
The film “Unstoppable” tells the real-life story of Anthony Robles, an American wrestler who won the 125-pound (57 kg) US National college wrestling championship in 2011 despite being born with one leg.
Directed by William Goldenberg (a storied screenwriter and editor, making his directorial debut here), “Unstoppable” stars Jharrel Jerome (“Moonlight,” “When They See Us”) as Robles, with Jennifer Lopez as his mother Judy and Bobby Cannavale as his stepfather Rick.
‘Unstoppable’ is directed by William Goldenber. (Supplied)
Already a talented high-school wrestler, Robles misses out on his dream college scholarship, but opts instead to pay to attend Arizona State University and win a place on their feted wrestling team.
Despite dealing with Rick’s abusive behavior at home, Robles continues to win over his teammates. And, backed by his mom’s unending belief, and that of his high-school coach (played by Michael Pena), he proves himself not only worthy of his spot, but an athlete capable of performing on the national stage.
Here is the thing with sports movies (or the good ones, at least), you have to really lean into every single cliche and embrace all the heartstring-plucking tropes. Because, if you do — and if the film has a decent cast doing an earnest job — the payoff is worth it.
And so it is with “Unstoppable,” a movie that is as determined as its real-world protagonist. Sure, there are a few story beats that get teased and then dropped. Sure, the by-the-numbers buildup to the climactic showdown is beyond predictable.
But this movie has a stellar lead performance from Jerome (helped by absolutely seamless effects and stunt work, which sees Robles himself performing some of the wrestling sequences), and an immensely talented supporting cast.
Lopez, Cannavale and Pena are all great, but Don Cheadle also deserves his share of the plaudits for his turn as Robles’ college coach and mentor.
Is this the most sophisticated exploration of the world of collegiate wrestling? Nah. But is it a heartwarmingly decent movie that will make you feel good? Absolutely.
