The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

(Image credit: The Nation)

Literature so often inspires visual storytelling, and this week, two films that have just arrived to movie theatres balance books on their shoulders. Dive into the horror and drama below…

Gretel and Hansel

What is it about? The thriller follows a young girl called Gretel (Sophia Lillis) and her little brother, Hansel (Samuel Leakey) as they make their way through the dark woods in search for food and work, only to stumble upon evil encounters. The film was directed by Oz Perkins, who had also acted in several films including Psycho II (1983), Legally Blonde (2001) and Star Trek (2009).

The good: The film offers a modern take on the German fairy tale of the same name by the Brothers Grimm, while remaining rich in symbolism and supernatural eeriness.

The Bad: A few of the scenes are a bit disturbing and might induce nightmares. Think twice before you bring children along with you!

Little Women

What is it about? The drama explores the classic novel by Lousia May Alcott, which sees Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) telling the story of her beloved sisters, Meg (Emma Watson), Amy (Florence Pugh) and Beth (Eliza Scanlen). The film was written and directed by Lady Bird’s Greta Gerwig, and it stars Laura Dern, Meryl Streep and Timothée Chalamet. It snagged six nominations at the 92^nd Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan) and Best Supporting Actress (Pugh).

The good: The March sisters represent the strong family values and emit ideologies of feminism. It is refreshing to see women in 1868 choosing life paths that do not solely revolve around marriage.

The Bad: Apart from carrying messages about female power, the film’s plotline does not offer much.

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

What is it about? The action film follows Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), after her break-up with the Joker, Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord. The film was directed by Cathy Yan.

The good: Robbie shines as the infamous Quinn, and she is joined by a talented supporting cast.

The bad: Its predecessor, Suicide Squad (2016), was a little disappointing in terms of plotline, and we wonder if Birds of Prey will follow in its footsteps.

 Check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Times page to know what’s showing when, and where…