Masquerades
A film by Lyes Salem
Friday, October 15, 4-6pm
Arabic, with subtitles in English
Algeria, 2008 (92 minutes)

Synopsis: After working for much of his life as a gardener in his dusty Algerian village, Mounir dreams of improving his family's fortune and gaining a measure of respect by marrying off his narcoleptic sister, Rym, to a real gentleman. However, Rym has other plans she dreams of marrying Mounir's best friend, Khliffa, who has secretly courted her for years.

When Mounir lashes out at village gossip with a fib that he has promised Rym to a wealthy outsider, she comes out of her sleepy stupor to embrace the rumor and press her real betrothed into action. Beautifully brought to life by a memorable cast including director Lyes Salem as the cocky but compassionate bumbler Mounir this heartfelt comedy suggests that when dreams become reality, it's time to wake up.

Location: The Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, 50 Washington Square South (enter at 255 Sullivan Street)