Eid Al Adha Films in Egypt Lure People with Comedy, Suspense

Eid Al Adha Films in Egypt Lure People with Comedy, Suspense
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Eid Al Adha Films in Egypt Lure People with Comedy, Suspense

Eid Al Adha Films in Egypt Lure People with Comedy, Suspense

Comedy and action movies are competing during Eid Al Adha holiday in Egypt to lure the largest number of spectators to the box office with light comedy or suspense and action. The season can be described as star-studded with names including Tamer Hosny, Ahmed Fahmi, Amir Karara, and Karim Abdel Aziz, alongside Hana el-Zahed and Yasmine Sabri.

Sources of production companies confirmed that four films are partaking in the Eid Al Adha season so far: “Mister X”, “Taj”, “Al Booboo”, and “Bait Al Roubi”. The company behind Mohamed Ramadan’s “A’ Zero” apologized for not taking part in the season because the “post-shooting phases such as montage, audio mixing, and soundtracks are not finished yet,” the company said in a press release.

Actor Ahmed Fahmi and his wife, actress Hana el-Zahed are co-starring “Mister X”, which revolves around marital struggles and the couple’s desire to recover their freedom after marriage in a comic frame. In the movie, men characters appear like “victims of unmerciful creatures represented by women.”

The title of the film recalls the ‘Mister X’ character previously played by late actor Fouad el-Mohandes in his film “The Most Dangerous Man in the World” (1967), and “The Return of the Most Dangerous Man in the World” (1973).

“Taj” combines comedy and romance in a love story between the film’s two main actors, Tamer Hosny and Dina el-Sherbiny. The plot of the movie is based on a Marvel-like superhero story. According to critics, “the production company spent a huge budget to bring high-end visual effects and graphics”

“Al Booboo” bets on the fame of Amir Karara, a star who brought great revenues in former action movies such as “Casablanca”.

The new film tells the story of Sultan, a former outlaw who’s being chased by a gang despite giving up on his old life. Then, a pharmacist (Yasmine Sabri) appears to add some comedy to the work.

“Bait Al Roubi” combines action and comedy with the character of Ibrahim al-Roubi (Karim Abdel Aziz) who leaves Cairo to live in peace in a far city, but then he is forced to return to the capital and live several adventures with his younger brother (Karim Mahmoud Abdel Aziz).

Film critic Ahmed Saad said “the comedy-action mix is the best choice for the Eid audience looking for light productions with a rich dose of laughter and entertainment and a touch of action and suspense that helps avoid boredom.”

“Laughter has become a common factor in Eid films, even in works based on action or romance. Comedy is an unavoidable touch in all Egyptian productions in the meantime,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.



Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
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Japanese Artist Finds Solace, Global Fans with Intricate Leaf-cutting

Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Japanese leaf-cutting artist, who goes by the name Lito, holds his freshly cut work featuring a frog with an umbrella, during an interview in Tokyo Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

A frog holding a taro-leaf umbrella. A parade of frolicking animals. An Ukiyo-e style Mount Fuji. Giant waves. A Japanese artist who goes by the name Lito carves these delicate designs on fallen leaves, giving life back to them.
The world of Lito’s delicate art, which he began in 2020 and posts on social media almost daily, has won fans from around the world. The leaf art has also given him solace after earlier struggles with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a purpose in life — the joy of making people happy with his art, The Associated Press reported.
He enjoys working at night. From a pile of leaves treated with a wrinkle-free chemical, he picks one and places it on a cutting board.
First, he outlines the design on the leaf with a pen in his right hand. Then he takes a design knife in his left hand and starts cutting the leaf carefully. Slowly, the leaf begins to take the shape of a frog carrying an umbrella — a simple design he demonstrated in a recent interview with AP.

More complex, highly intensive work on a single leaf can take more than eight hours to complete.
His leaf-cutting works include titles such as “Scrolls of Frolicking Animals,” “Leaf Aquarium,” and “Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” Each piece includes his own twists, and often uses animals.
“I would rather finish it in one go when I am focused,” Lito, 38, said. He didn't want to disclose his real name for personal reasons.
Since his childhood, Lito says he has had high levels of concentration and patience. But he had trouble fitting into what was considered the norm at school or at work, despite all his efforts. He struggled to interpret others' feelings and to avoid confrontations.
After years of difficulty, he went to a hospital at age 30 and was told he has ADHD, a diagnosis that he felt explained why he has always done things differently.
He saw no point in forcing himself to do things the same way as other people, and began to adjust his life.
In early 2020, Lito came across the art of leaf cutting. He saw it as the perfect use of his patience and concentration.
Word of his skills has spread across social media, and he has published books on his leaf-cutting work. He holds a near monthly solo exhibition in various places in Japan.
“If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing, I want to do more. That’s my driving force for what's next,” Lito says.