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Roschdy Zem’s OUR TIES holds successful Arab world premiere at CIFF, receives much praise

17 November 2022
Feature Film OUR TIES by Roschdy Zem held a successful Arab world premiere on Tuesday, November 15th at the 44th Cairo International Film Festival’s International Panorama section, earning the admiration of the audience, critics, and media outlets alike. 
 
The film is scheduled to have two more screenings before the festival’s end on the 22nd – one on Thursday, November 17th at Zamalek Cinema 1 at 3:00 pm, and another on Friday, November 18th at the Small Theater at 8:45 pm.
 
Previously, the film world premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and was critically acclaimed, with Lisa Nesselson from Screen Daily saying that "Our Ties is a completely contemporary, obviously personal, and ultimately uplifting entry in Zem's wide-ranging filmography.”
 
Meanwhile, Jessica Kiang from Variety said that "Our Ties is heartfelt and beautifully played; a burst of bright chatter that doesn't reinvent the wheel of the domestic drama but does watch it turn with an unusually compassionate, affectionate eye."
 
OUR TIES follows Moussa, who has always been kind, selfless, and there for his family; Unlike his brother Ryad, a high-profile TV presenter who is widely criticized for his egocentricity by those around him, with his only defender being Moussa, who admires him greatly. 
 
When an accident befalls Moussa, causing him serious brain damage, he now speaks without any filter, telling the brutal truth to friends and family alike, leading all to resent him, except Ryad.
 
OUR TIES — which was co-written by Maïwenn — stars the award-winning cast Sami Bouajila, Roschdy Zem, Meriem Serbah, Maïwenn, and Rachid Bouchareb. Additionally, Julien Poupard served as its DOP, and it was edited by Pierre Deschamps
 
The film was produced by Laziz Belkaï, with Wild Bunch International managing worldwide sales and MAD Solutions managing distribution in the Arab world.
 
Roschdy Zem is a French actor and director who was born in Gennevilliers, France, in 1965. He made his acting debut in André Téchiné's J'EMBRASSE PAS in 1991 and received the Best Actor Award at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival for his role in Rachid Bouchareb's DAYS OF GLORY.
 
He then began his directing career with MAUVAISE FOI, eventually making OMAR M'A TUER in 2011, BODYBUILDER in 2014, and CHOCOLAT (2016), which sold about 2m tickets in France. 
 
In 2019, Zem also received the César Award for Best Actor for his performance in Arnaud Desplechin's ROUBAIX, UNE LUMIÈRE. In the same year, he made his fifth film as a director – PERSONA NON GRATA.
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