Film screening & discussion: Al-Kompars (The Extras)

The Extras is the fourth and finest feature from the inaugurator of Syrian auteur cinema, Nabil Maleh. A multiple festival award winner, The Extras is the engaging story of a poor young couple's courtship. For eight months, Salem, an aspiring actor/gas station attendant has been courting Nada, a young widow - yet they can only see each other in public under the watchful eyes of her overly protective brothers. 

A number of comic situations arise as Salem convinces a friend to lend his apartment for two hours so he can finally meet Nada in private. However, once alone, the understandably paranoid lovers are awkward and helpless, having so internalized societal scrutiny, their exchange is fraught with anxiety and shame. —Cinemathèque Ontario

Post screening discussion moderated by Mafalda Ade, Turkish lecturer at McGill and Chargé de cours in Arabic cinema at UQÀM.

Presented by the Islamic Studies Library with English subtitles.