Magic has always captivated the human imagination and sparked curiosity. It is a realm that transcends the boundaries of logic and reason, allowing us to escape the mundane and enter a world of wonder and enchantment. Whether it be through the pages of a book, the screen of a movie, or the performance of a magician, magic has the power to transport us to a realm where anything is possible. One of the most fascinating aspects of magic is the sense of awe and wonder it evokes. When witnessing a magician perform mind-boggling tricks or illusions, we are left in a state of disbelief and astonishment. The impossible becomes possible, as objects vanish into thin air, people are sawed in half only to emerge unscathed, and impossible feats are accomplished with ease.
Filmmaker Pierre-Luc Vaillancourt in attendance!
These magickal films are exploring various realms of consciousness, challenging the nature of cinema by their singular artistic visions, esoteric sensibilities and remarkable metaphysical insights. Its most popular myth remains branded on its flag, an iconographic depiction of an eagle eating a snake atop a nopal that dates back to the Aztec decision to settle in Teotihuacán present-day Mexico City.
The impossible becomes possible, as objects vanish into thin air, people are sawed in half only to emerge unscathed, and impossible feats are accomplished with ease. It is this suspension of disbelief that allows us to temporarily let go of our skepticism and indulge in the fantastical. Magic also allows us to tap into our sense of childlike wonder and curiosity.
Magical spectacle theater
FANGS
Aka Anyab.
Dir. Mohammed Shebl, 1981.
Egypt. 100 min.
In Arabic with English subtitles.
THURSDAY, JUNE 2 – 5:00 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 11 – 10:00 PM
FRIDAY, JUNE 17 – 7:30 PM
TUESDAY, JUNE 28 – 10:00 PM
The Arab Spring and aftermath has yielded an accompanying wave of essential social realist film documents. But where, you ask, are all the Middle Eastern disco vampires now? Those occupied a special part of the early 80s — namely the exhilarating Egyptian ultra-camp triumph that is FANGS.
The premise — a young couple attempt to shelter from a storm at a creepy castle only to have their lives changed forever — may have been lifted straight from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (along with the dance numbers, professorial framing device, and disembodied lips intro sequence). But however much director Mohammed Shebl may have worn his love of that cult icon on his sleeve, his ambitious and wildly imaginative attempt to transcribe it into contemporary 1981 Egypt makes for something wholly his own. Black magic, singing vampires in spangles, Egyptian pop cameos, awkward climbing Dracula sequence, implausible fog machine deployment, a shockingly banging original electrofunk soundtrack by the film’s co-writer (fleshed out with bizarre soundtrack cues lifted directly from American movies of the time), kinetic on-screen animation effects — it’s all here.
In a memorable postmodern tangent the film even turns aside into social commentary to prove the existence of the ordinary “vampires of Egyptian society”, wherein Dracula pops up in various mundane roles (price-gouging plumber, opportunistic cab driver, etc) to continue haunting the leads decades into the future. If there’s any doubt about what sort of film world we’re in, it’ll be settled in the first minutes, when our protagonists’ relationship is established via an outside-the-window-serenade, with a bunch of random joggers in knee socks and shorts leaping in as back-up dancers. All of which serves, as well, as a strange reminder of the much relaxed social climate that prevailed in Egypt 30 years ago. (In his next film, Shebl would even work in cuts from a Divine video to establish the appropriate vibe at a club scene.)
Mohammed Shebl, an iconoclastic radio personality and filmmaker who died young 20 years ago, was a bit of a glorious outlier in the Egyptian film world. Over the course of four features he fought a one-man war to jump-start the Egyptian horror film industry, which sadly never quite caught on with audiences and critics. But besides his own subsequent films, brimful of love for the likes of EVIL DEAD and NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, he did manage to inspire a brief generation of surreal ghost stories and tales of the Egyptian Weird, most sadly untranslated and unseen in the west. His debut FANGS, however, has been translated and provides an ecstatic, essential window into a rarely seen side of Arabic cinema.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 – 7:30PM
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 – 7:30PM
As children, we are naturally curious about the world around us and constantly seek to understand and explore. Magic taps into this innate curiosity, offering us a glimpse into a world beyond our understanding. It encourages us to question the boundaries of reality and embrace the unknown. The mystery and allure of magic lies in its ability to challenge our perception of what is possible, pushing the limits of our imagination. Furthermore, magic has the power to invoke a sense of nostalgia and evoke fond memories from our childhood. Many of us have fond memories of watching magicians perform tricks at birthday parties or marvelling at the illusions performed on stage. These memories become treasures that we carry with us into adulthood, reminding us of the joy and wonder that magic can bring. Lastly, magic serves as a reminder of the power of illusion and deception. It teaches us that things are not always as they seem and challenges us to question our perceptions. Magic tricks are meticulously crafted to deceive and misdirect, reminding us that reality can be manipulated and shaped to fit a desired narrative. It is a reminder to approach life with a healthy skepticism and to constantly question the world around us. In conclusion, magic is a captivating realm that allows us to escape reality and enter a world of wonder and enchantment. It evokes a sense of awe and wonder, taps into our innate curiosity, evokes nostalgia, and reminds us of the power of illusion. As we delve into the world of magic, we are reminded of the limitless possibilities that exist beyond the boundaries of our everyday lives..
Reviews for "Magic for Healing: Exploring the Role of Magicians in Therapeutic Settings"
1. Jane - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Into the Magic." The storyline felt incredibly cliché, with a chosen one discovering their special powers and battling a dark force to save the world. The characters were also one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. Additionally, the pacing was inconsistent, with moments of intense action followed by long periods of monotony. Overall, I found the book to be lacking originality and engaging storytelling.
2. Mark - 3/5 stars - While "Into the Magic" had its moments, I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout. The writing style was overly descriptive, to the point where it felt like the author was trying too hard to paint a vivid picture. This made the pacing slow and bogged down the overall flow of the story. The world-building was decent, but I would have liked to see more depth and complexity to the magical elements. The characters, unfortunately, fell flat for me and lacked the necessary development to make them memorable. Overall, it had potential but fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I found "Into the Magic" to be quite predictable and formulaic. The plot followed a familiar pattern, and there were no major twists or surprises that kept me intrigued. The dialogue felt stiff and forced, lacking natural flow and authenticity. I also had a hard time connecting with the main character, as their motivations and emotions seemed superficial. The writing itself was average at best, with little creativity or distinctive voice. Overall, I was disappointed by the lack of originality and depth in this book.