I am a seriously big fan of Patricia Clarkson. I’ve seen her in countless movies going all the way back to High Art and she has never once hit a false note. Not once. She is always good (even if sometimes the material does not rise to the occasion.)
But for some bizarre reason for over 20 years she has never been the lead, the driver of the story. I am happy to report that the drought is over and Patricia Clarkson at 50, has her first romantic lead in Ruba Nadda’s Cairo Time.
The film is about a Juliette, a woman who goes on vacation to Cairo to meet her husband who is working for the UN in Gaza. Her kids are out of the house, she edits a small but prestigious magazine and works too hard. She is content, yet not happy.
Her husband gets stuck and cannot make it to Cairo so he asks his former colleague Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to meet and help her get situated. Juliette is used to being alone so she attempts to tackle Cairo. The problem is that Cairo is not New York City. A woman walking alone is harassed and bothered incessantly and Juliette becomes unmoored. She calls Tareq for assistance and they wind up spending lots of time together and develop feelings for each other.
Now Tareq is friends with Juliette’s husband and he’s also very respectful of Juliette (and don’t forget he’s a Muslim.) Juliette, in turn, is also quite conflicted about her feelings for Tareq. And while nothing sexual technically happens between the two, you can feel the sexual tension poring off the screen. There is serious chemistry between Alexander Siddig and Patricia Clarkson. They are hot in a way that Bella and Edward could never be (and I can’t believe that I just compared them) because these are two adults who understand and respect the implications of their feelings. Her marriage, his friendship. This is not a film about two people who meet and have an affair and never see each other again. This is a film about people and feelings and love and how sometimes taking that next step is not the right step for either party.
The film feels like one long stroll, restrained, not rushed. Now we just need more leads for Patricia Clarkson.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the tip! I’ve always been a big fan of hers too, am going to keep an eye out for this film.
Sounds great. I love Patricia Clarkson! Thanks MS.
Hi Melissa,
I wanted to let you know that Patricia Clarkson will be interviewed by Charlie Rose on Bloomberg Television tonight. She’ll be talking about the point you mentioned at the beginning of your post: she’s never been the primary lead, or driving role in a movie. If you’re interested in checking out the interview, you can find your local listings here http://bloomberg.viewerlink.tv/
All the best,
Meghan
Community Manager
Bloomberg Television
http://www.Facebook.com/BloombergTelevision
Wait– so you’re Team Jacob? ;)
YAyE!!!! Love her!
Patricia Clarkson is wonderful, I agree, one of the best. I’ll have to see this movie. Thanks for the heads up!
@Meghan I love the way Charlie Rose interviews women especially actors: Meryl Streep, Tilda Swinton, Helen Mirren, but also directors, women & men. Every so often I wish he’d let them run on more though, e.g. the most recent Tilda Swinton re “I am love”; & I think also he didn’t quite get there with Kathryn Bigelow. Such a pleasure to be able to access him from NZ, as we miss a lot of stuff–
@wellywoodwoman- I’m glad you get to access Charlie Rose’s interviews, all the way in NZ!
{ 1 trackback }