Cairo Time (Widescreen)

I completely disagree with the previous review. I found the movie delightful. The film brought back many memories of Cairo and Egypt (and Arab men) for me. There is also the experience of a woman traveling alone rather than traveling with a companion or family. I recognized many of the experiences that Juliette had as captured by the exquisite acting of Patricia Clarkson. I had no idea what an excellent actress she is. I especially loved the slow development of the relationship between Juliette and Tarek, played by Alexander Siddig. Hopefully, the film industry will cast Siddig in more romantic leads (if thats what he wants).
The movie did just scratch the surface on several little subplots but it did not get weighed down by them and kept to the theme of friendship and romance developing while a woman waits (unaccompanied) in Cairo. The music was beautiful as well. I recommend the movie (unless you only like action films) and I suggest checking out "The Making of Cairo Time" on Youtube for a little more background on the film and director. (Its an art film and a romance film.)

This movie has such a peaceful calm sensory feel. You can lose yourself in Clarkson's ability to flow thru her environment with a quiet nature and gravelly voice. She plays a loving devoted career focused wife. Her husband is stationed in Egypt and she travels to Cairo to share time with him on a sightseeing vacation. They do not see each other till the end, due to the nature of his work assignment. When she arrives to the city of pyramids and male filled tea houses, she meets such a kind beautiful man who had worked with her husband before retiring and moving on to own a teahouse in the colorful city. Her mate is held up and she stays in a warm lush hotel room with the other wives waiting for their time to spend with their partners. She feels the culture shock of the country and finds herself strangely drawn to make another connection of her husband's foreign friend. They resonate with each other in such a gentle soft way. They are natural and at ease with one another. Their time flows with a slow relaxing rhythm. The movies pace works with the characters. The finale seems appropriate yet sadly echoing a lost chance. The things I liked most about this film, Clarkson's relaxed calm and sensousness, the kindness of a male figure that felt so loving, the difference of a land not visited with all senses being engaged, the tea house and its wonderful brew of warmth and its lazy friendship, and romance.

"Cairo Time" is an excellent film for those who love the sights and sounds of Cairo. It is a film about a N.Y. magazine editor, who is supposed to meet her husband for a week in Cairo. He is an employee of the UN and is held up in the Gaza Strip of Palestine settling a dispute between Israel and the occupied Gaza. He only appears in the last frames of the film at the point when his wife is succombing to the charms of the husband's Cairo assistant who is always discreet, though tempted, and tours the lady through many authentic Cairo scenes, including Han Khalili and a wedding in Alexandria.

A female viewer will recall that unprotected Western blond women do not walk alone on Cairo streets. Also the scenes in the male coffee house are very authentic. Many GIs must have seen such scenes in Baghdad. Unfortunately, the one item not authentic was the American visitor always wearing decolte dresses. Only Cairo's richest native women can wear such garb on the streets, knowing the police will protect them from molestation. See the film if you like Mideast sounds and customs. All actors were excellent.