The soaked in history backdrop of Egypt serves as a reminder that the past is sometimes more present than one can anticipate and while we attempt to hold it at bay, when the levee breaks it is both devastating and welcomed. In Zeina Durra‘s sophomore film Luxor, the notion of time, memory and place offer the sage Hana (Andrea Riseborough) a moment to reflect, a moment to breathe and for a certain ownership of second chances to occur. A sort of minimalist Before Sunrise for adults with notes of Antonioni’s The Passenger, this textured tale feels lived-in. Her big return to Sundance after having premiered The Imperialists Are Still Alive! in 2009, we discussed baggy pants and broken people and let the conversation organically flow from one film note to the next.
