Wael Shawky in his Cabaret Crusades skillfully juxtaposes historical narrative with the childish world of puppetry—seriousness with naivety, fear with humor, horror with entertainment—to focus on events crucial to the development of an Arab identity. While prior to the Crusades different groups coexisted more or less peacefully, the trauma of the European invasions shaped today's familiar dichotomies—East and West, Christianity and Islam, Shi’ism and Sunni’ism. At first sight a history lesson for children, the project ultimately raises important questions about the historicity of identity and consequently the role of history itself.
Cast
Recommendations
view all
Medieval
Kingdom of Heaven
Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead
Munich – The Edge of War
Field of Lost Shoes
Panther
All Eyez on Me
Jesus Christ Superstar
Mayerling
Richard Jewell
Outlaws - For Greater Glory
The Last Rifleman
Oranges and Sunshine
Emperor
The Untold History Of The United States
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Mother Night
Truth & Treason
Wittgenstein
Dalíland