By Reem Shaddad at Dubai International Film Festival

Film: When Monaliza Smiled
Year: 2012
Director: Fadi G. Haddad
Starring: Tahani Salim, Shady Khalaf, Haifa Al-Agha, Nadira Omran
Duration: 95 minutes

Released in Amman several months ago to rave reviews (a rarity in Jordan’s overwhelmingly pessimistic society), ‘When Monaliza Smiled’ was an obvious festival choice on my ‘to-watch’ list. Being Jordanian, one might think my pride-based bias to be unfair in attempting to critique the Kingdom’s festival entry. However, the applause that rang out long after the credits was that of a multicultural audience, bound together through the experience of viewing one of the most uplifting films atDIFF.

A romantic social comedy, ‘When Monaliza Smiled’ is directed by Dubai-based Jordanian director, Fadi Haddad, and produced partially by the Royal Film Commission’s Education Feature Program. The film revolves around the aptly named leading lady, Monaliza, born into a world of spite and strife; a realistic scenario within the working class communities of Jordan. Living with her spinster sister, Afaf, played by the greatly respected Haifa Al-Agha, Monaliza is burdened by the experiences of her youth.

Teased at a young age for her inability to smile, our 30-something year old heroine is caught between familial commitment, self-contentment and a dream world; one where the dashing stars and sexy sirens of black-and-white Egyptian cinema spin an intoxicating web of stories about love, lust and ‘happily ever afters.’ That is, until she is jolted into the grim realities of Amman’s governmental sector and finds herself in the arms of her new employer’s tea boy, Hamdi.

Haddad’s portrayal of quintessential Arab societal constraints, expectations and taboos overcomes the cinematic obstacles of social dramas, i.e. appearing too harrowing, dull or even regurgitated. Instead, he leads us masterfully through the suffocating whirlwind of nosey Ammanite neighbourhoods with a balanced combination of frustration and beauty. Resonating with the region, , this mature coming-of-age narrative captures Monaliza’s quest for independence and love, creating a portrait that is vividly moving and honest.

Subtle in its message, ‘the film manages to take one straight to the heart of some very real community troubles and class-based contention, and reverts back to the magic and charm of the Hashemite Kingdom with ease.. Alongside a masterful representation of the lower-working classes, the object of Monaliza’s confused affections, Hamdi, is a breath of Egyptian fresh air, humour and charm. The character carries the film in scenes where Monaliza’s adamant immaturity and stone-faced demeanour may have caused the otherwise witty script to lag.

Powerful performances from Tahani Salim (Monaliza), youngster Fadi Salim (Asfour), Suha Najjar (Rudaina) and, of course, the legendary Nadira Omran (Nayfeh) round up a film, which is very much bound to bring Fadi Haddad some well-earned film industry brownie points, and hopefully, a deal for another of his servings of Jordanian romance and humour.