Homeward bound: Jordanian movie Transit Cities

The cast of the Jordanian movie Transit Cities, an Arab Muhr nominee, talked about making the film on a low budget and how the idea was developed from the initial stage until the film was produced and entered the competition.

Director Mohammad Al Hushki said after discussing the idea with producer Rula Nasser, they wanted to involve like-minded people in the making of this film, produced with the support of the Royal Film Commission in Jordan. Al Hushki approached famous Jordanian actress Saba Mubarak because he heard that she also wanted to act in a Jordanian movie.

"What we have in Jordan cannot be described as a film industry, as productions are few and far between," Saba said.

"Good films are exceptional because of difficult production circumstances, and this is why people passionate about films feel helpless and unable to achieve."

Yet the production turned out to be capable of competing at an international cinema event such as the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff).

"It is my duty to invest in the people who will create a cinema industry in Jordan, because Jordan's most important wealth is its human resources," the actress said.

‘Dreams shattered'

Actor Mohammad Al Qabbani said the film is about the disappointment of every Arab who lives outside his home country and dreams of going back, and eventually goes back to find that everything has changed in his country while he was away.

"It is about how their dreams are shattered when they realise how their nations have changed," Al Qabbani said, adding that the film also touches upon the deteriorating political situation in the Arab world.

The film's crew agreed that censorship was not a big problem in Jordan, not just because such censorship is lenient, but because when there is a will, there is way, according to Saba.

"Look at Iranian cinema, for example. They are dealing with tough censorship and too many taboos, but are managing to make great films, sometimes shot in one small room," she said.