March 2010Issue No. 59
February 27-March 12 Ahmmed Hammoud Solo exhibition by Ahmmed Hammoud. Art House Gallery Info: 011-662 8112
March 6-20 Liberated Spatiality Solo exhibition by Syrian painter Thaier Helal. Ayyam Gallery / 7pm Info: 011-613 1088
March 20-April 2 Sirwan Exhibition by Iraqi artists living in Syria. Art House Gallery Info: 011-662 8112
March 31-April 23 OrienTYPOccident French and Iranian graphic artists Philippe Apeloig and Reza Abedini showcase posters that mix typography with calligraphy. French Cultural Centre / 7:30pm Info: 011-231 6181
March 1-14 Italy’s Il Florilegio Circus A daily two-hour performance starts at 8.30pm, with an extra show every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm, at the old Damascus Fairgrounds. Tickets cost SYP 300 (USD 6.60), SYP 600 (USD 13.20), SYP 900 (USD 19.80), depending on your seat. For reservations, phone 0940 831 600
March 11-15 L’Atalante A 1934 French film directed by Jean Vigo. Jean (Jean Dasté), captain of the canal barge L’Atalante, has a new wife, Juliette (Dita Parlo), who finds it difficult to adapt to barge life, particularly after visiting Paris. French Cultural Centre March 11 / 7pm March 15 / 5pm Info: 011-231 6181
March 18-29 Of Time and the City An intensely personal documentary tracing the decline of Liverpool – once a global port and centre of industry – and its reinvention as a centre of culture. Directed by Liverpudlian filmmaker Terence Davies. French Cultural Centre March 18 / 7pm March 29 / 5pm Info: 011-231 6181
March 3-8 Three Colours: Blue The first in a trilogy of French films, Three Colors: Blue (1993) is written, produced, and directed by acclaimed Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski. Set in Paris, the film depicts Julie, a woman whose husband and child are killed in a car accident. Set free from her family bonds, Julie unsuccessfully attempts to cut herself off from everything she has known. March 3 / Al-Kindi Cinema Tartous / 6pm March 8 / Al-Kindi Cinema Lattakia / 6pm Info: 011-221 8899
March 10-22 Violence des Echanges en Milieu Tempéré Philip is pursuing a career in a large consultancy company in Paris. Everything is going well until he meets a girl on the metro. Directed by Jean-Marc Moutout. March 10 / Dedeman Cinema Aleppo / 7pm March 17 / Al-Kindi Cinema Tartous / 6pm March 22 / Al-Kindi Cinema Lattakia / 6pm Info: 011-221 8899
March 24 Porte des Lilas A guitar player who calls himself ‘The Artist’ strikes up a friendship with a dim-witted slob named Juju. Things begin to change when they agree to shelter a thief running from police. A film by French director René Clair. Dedeman Cinema Aleppo / 7pm Info: 011-221 8899
Dox Box Festival The country’s leading documentary film festival. For more information, log on to www.dox-box.org
March 4 Six Weeks / Mother / Woman Sought / Till It Hurts / Women’s Talk / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4pm Don’t Look Back / Hamra Theatre / 4:30pm The Lucky Ones / Video Mappings / Aida Palestine / Al-Kindy Cinema / 6:15pm The Power of Speech / Hamra Theatre / 6:30pm Can Yama Can / Al-Kindy Cinema / 8pm The Battle of Chile (Part 1) / Hamra Theatre / 8:15pm
March 5 Pink Taxi / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4pm Start.Com / Hamra Theatre / 4:30pm New Skin / Men of the City / Al-Kindy Cinema / 6pm If Fog Had Roots / Hamra Theatre / 6:30pm Fart Rumman / Black Stone / Al-Kindy Cinema / 7:30pm The Battle of Chile (Part 2) / Hamra Theatre / 8pm
March 6 New Skin / Video Mappings / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4pm Kings of Pastry / Hamra Theatre / 4:30pm Nour al-Huda / 1958 / Al-Kindy Cinema / 5:30pm Freetime Machos / Hamra Theatre / 6:15pm Zidane / Al-Kindy Cinema / 7:30pm The Battle of Chile (Part 3) / Hamra Theatre / 8pm
March 7 Can Yama Can / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4pm Bastion of Sin / Hamra Theatre / 4:30pm Wastelands / Al-Kindy Cinema / 6pm Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go / Hamra Theatre / 6:30pm Aunt Hala - Samia / Al-Kindy Cinema / 6:45pm 12 Angry Lebanese / Al-Kindy Cinema / 8pm Housing / Hamra Theatre / 8:30pm
March 8 Mother / Woman Sought / Till it Hurts / Women’s Talks / Hamra Theatre / 4pm 1958 / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4:30pm Flint Mountains / Al-Kindy Cinema / 5:30pm The Moon Inside You / Hamra Theatre / 6pm Nour al-Huda / Al-Kindy Cinema / 7pm One Day in Peoples’ Poland / Al-Kindy Cinema / 7:30pm Shout / Hamra Theatre / 8pm
March 9 Housing / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4pm Mirror / Hamra Theatre / 4:30pm Absence of Mr. or Mrs. B / Hamra Theatre / 4:45pm Black Stone / Al-Kindy Cinema / 6pm Zidane / Hamra Theatre / 6:30pm Revue / Al-Kindy Cinema / 7:30pm Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go / Hamra Theatre / 8pm
March 10 Aunt Hala / Samia / Al-Kindy Cinema / 4pm Antoine / Hamra Theatre / 4:30pm Flint Mountains / Al-Kindy Cinema / 5:30pm If Fog Had Roots / Al-Kindy Cinema / 6:30pm Our Street / Cinema Version / Hamra Theatre / 6:30pm 12 Angry Lebanese / Al-Kindy Cinema / 8pm
Cinema City
Check out the latest movies to hit the big screen. For reservations, phone: 9424. For more information log on to www.cinemacity.sy
March 29 Solisti Aquilani Solisti Aquilani hits the stage at the Damascus Opera House. Dar al-Assad Italian Cultural Institute Info: 011 3319 543
Syria mulls renewed Turkey-brokered peace talks: President Bashar al-Assad and visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu discussed the prospects of resuming indirect talks between Syria and Israel.
Iraqi refugees vote in Syria: Twenty-three stations set up in Syria for the Iraqi election.
Iraqi VP in Damascus: Iraqi Vice President has arrived in Damascus for a 3-day visit ahead of the March 7 elections.
Iran and Syria warn of colonialism: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said US policy on Iran was a new form of colonialism in the Middle East during his meeting with the Iranian president.
US lifts travel advisory: US lifts travel advisory warning citizens about security concerns in Syria.
Syria dismisses IAEA calls: Syria has dismissed an IAEA recommendation to allow its inspectors unrestrained access, days after the agency said a bombed Syrian complex could have been a nuclear site.
Syrian bans activists from leaving: Number of activists banned from leaving the country has risen in the past couple of month.
French PM raises human rights concerns:French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he held "frank and direct" talks with Syria's president on the issue of human rights.
Possible nuclear activity at bombed site: Uranium particles found at a Syrian desert complex bombed by Israel in 2007 point to possible covert nuclear activity at the site, the IAEA said.
Top US officials visit Syria: Syrian president meets with Under Secretary of State William Burns while senior US counter terrorism official Daniel Benjamin holds talks with local counterparts.
Turkey and Iraq restart rail link:The first passenger train from Iraq, running through Syria and into Turkey, arrives in Gaziantep.
Obama nominates Ford as ambassador: US Senate must now approve nomination.
Syria shuts down fake drug ring: Some 65 people arrested in counterfeit pharmaceutical ring.
Syria approves US ambassador: Deputy US ambassador to Iraq Robert Stephen Ford to take up post.
New regulations for domestic workers: The Syrian government has released a directive regulating the employment of foreign workers.
