Woman Today November 2010

contents

november 2010

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Women who make magic

Directors, actors, producers... Woman Today did the rounds at Doha Tribeca Film Festival and caught up with women who are making a mark on celluloid.

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22

Life is all ha-ha! Hee-hee!

Of Minarets, Domes and Stereotypes

The first woman in Islam to design a Mosque – Zeynep Fadillioglu – speaks about her career and the Mosque which made her a symbolic figure for women in Islam.

Poised, graceful, and blessed with a quirky sense of humour – Hanadi Hassan speaks to Woman Today on what’s life like as Qatar’s first female stand-up comic.

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A LOT To Be Happy About

In the business of collection and auctioneering, jewellery aficionados Isabelle La Bruyere and Lyne Kaddoura talk about their sparkling careers and the life behind the bids.

2010 November

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Creatively yours...

The path towards creativity is never an easy one for women. We list the women who strode the path of success in their fields.

36 health & fitness 12 work wise

The magic of expression

Carolin Zeitler explores quick fixes for soothing a bad mood.

Get slow

Who doesn’t feel as if there aren’t enough hours in a day? Nicole Van Hattem tells us why.

34 Mixed Bag

Girls’ night in

Follow Woman Today’s tips of how to create the perfect relaxing, yet fun, night in with your closest girlfriends.

Porcini

Lip smacking Italian

We sample the revamped savoury menu at Porcini – the Italian restaurant at Ritz Carlton.

44 style stop

8 in short

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November 2010

VOLUME V / ISSUE 10

November 2010

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Yousuf Jassem Al Darwish

Chief Executive Officer Sandeep Sehgal Executive Vice President Alpana Roy Vice President Ravi Raman

Managing Editor Vani Saraswathi Deputy Editor Sindhu Nair

assistant Editors Ahmed Lotfy Ali John Hunt Lifestyle & Fashion correspondent Orna Ballout

Editorial Co-ordinator Cassey Oliveira

Contributor Shalinee Bharadwaj

Art Director Venkat Reddy Asst Director – production Sujith Heenatigala

assistant Art Director Hanan Abu Saiam

Senior Graphic Designers Ayush Indrajith

Sampath Gunathilaka M D

Managers – Marketing Mohammed Sami

Zulfikar Jiffry Senior Media Consultant Chaturka Karandana

Media Consultants Victoria Ferraris HASSAN REKKAB

Marketing research &

support executive amjeth ali Accountant Pratap Chandran

sr. distribution Executive Bikram Shrestha

Distribution Support Arjun Timilsina Bhimal rai

Published by Oryx Advertising Co WLL P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584 Fax: (+974) 44550982 Email: wtoday@omsqatar.com website: www.omsqatar.com Copyright © 2010 Oryx Advertising Co WLL

Address all your correspondence to Woman Today, Oryx Advertising Co WLL, P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, Fax:(+974) 44550982, email: wtoday@omsqatar.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising contents. Licensing/ Republishing WT content: To obtain permission for text syndication in books, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and web or to use images/pictures carried in Woman Today, please contact our syndication and licensing department on the numbers given above. Permission is also required to photocopy a WT article for classroom use, course packs, business or general use. Custom reprints: Published article/s to be used as stand-alone pieces can be reprinted by us on special request. The reprint cost is based on the length of the article and the quantity ordered. Contact our custom publishing division on the numbers given above for more information.To subscribe to Woman Today call our subscription department on the numbers given above.

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November 2010

FROM THE EDITOR

"Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn’t matter. I’m not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn’t make us better, then what on earth is it for? " – Alice Walker And here are more questions. While the kitchen is considered the domain of women, why are the celebrity chefs mostly male? If women are more artistic, then why are there so few of them selling their works? When it comes to monetising our skills, why do we falter?

Why aren’t there more commercially successful female directors, music composers, painters?

Why are women in the arts part of a niche? Why aren’t they more mainstream? Do we fail to market ourselves? Or in our quest to break stereotypes, are we only forcing ourselves into deeper stereotyping – trying to be a woman in everything we do. How do we shake off the gender-oriented suffixes and prefixes? Act’ress’, ‘women’ director, female artist etc. (But then, if all our dreams do come true, what would we fill these pages with?)

This month, Woman Today dedicates its pages to women in arts – directors, actors, comedians, designers; Women who are breaking into the commercial realms of the creative sector. Women who take pride in their gender, but do not let it define their interests and success.

Let us not be worried about being a stereotype, let’s do what makes us happy. If that’s giving up a career to raise your children, so be it. If that’s to not have kids, and pursue a vocation, so be it. If it’s juggle both, and drive yourself crazy (willingly) in that quest, so be it. Amen!

And let’s give art (in the kitchen, at work, in the bedroom...) a chance to make us better.

PS: In our year-end issue we are counting our blessings... so if you have things you are grateful for in your life, don’t forget to drop us a line at wtoday@omsqatar.com

Vani Saraswathi

GO GREEN

letters Inspiring issue

Nokia E63

Woman Today invites readers’ feedback Share your views on the magazine or any issue connected to Qatar.

One lucky reader will win a Nokia E63.

Write to: The Editor, Woman Today, PO Box 3272, Doha Fax: (+974) 44550982, email: wtoday@omsqatar.com

Woman Today reserves the right to edit correspondence. Views and opinions expressed in the published letters may not necessarily be that of the publication’s.

Prizes sponsored by:

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November 2010

Woman Today’s October issue was truly an inspiring one. Breast cancer is a potent disease which has affected thousands of women, all over the world. Yet, many of us seem ignorant about its growing rate of incidence. It is a known fact that breast cancer is curable, if detected at an early age. But, many of us remain oblivious to this fact and end up being a victim of it. Hopefully with this magazine, our eyes will open to reality. I urge all readers to please be aware of this growing menace. Be safe guys!

Jessica Lobo Pink power I never realised the power of pink, until I laid my hands on Woman Today magazine. The coverage on Breast Cancer was excellent. The experts’ take on how to fight back cancer was an impressive piece.

It was also satisfying to know that media has done a lot to spread awareness about this disease. From documentaries, to bike rides to movies and spas, the attempts taken to caution people deserve appreciation. It’s a sad fact though that despite all these attempts, we still prefer to hide in the shadows.

Rehana Saber Healthy women I am a fitness freak and I always love reading the Health & Fitness section in your magazine. Since I am a working mother, I don’t get the time to hit the gym.

The exercises shown are simple and can be easily done at home, thereby saving my time and money!

Whenever I get the time, I pick up a copy of Woman Today and take a quick look at the exercise section, and indulge in some quality ‘fitness-time’. I also enjoy reading ‘in short’ as it’s crisp, interesting and amusing at the same time.

Faheeda Tarikh Double power The October issue of Woman Today covered articles on two young women – both different but yet connected. Yasmine Al-Massri has shown strength onscreen. She is a young and beautiful actress with a bundle of talent, who is paving the way for Arab women in the world of cinema. On the other hand, Roxana Saberi is a strong woman off-screen. Its unfortunate though, that Roxana had to endure such hardships, but she fought back with dignity. Such is the power of women!

Laura Waugh Light reading Touching stories, beautiful layout and a positive vibe – what more would you want from a magazine.

Woman Today has always managed to keep me engrossed with its interesting content. I enjoy reading about the lives of different women, their inspirations, achievements and overall personality.

Moreover, this month’s theme on Breast Cancer was also quite impressive. It touched upon this sensitive topic in a light but informative way. Good job guys!

Sania Khan

short

in

Don’t Worry, be Happy!

T

his catchy jingle by musician Bobby McFerrin has had immense popularity. Being happy isn’t too hard. Here are ways to fix that smile on your face...

Don’t fret over the terrible past; focus on your present.

Make relationships your top priority; joy lies in loving and to be loved.

Develop multiple passions; enjoy new excitements in your life.

Don’t live life the way others want you to live; be who you are.

Lead a fulfilling life; find your life purpose and chase it faithfully.

Control your mind; don’t let negative thoughts creep in.

Be happy with what you have; learn the art of contentment.

Make others happy first; happiness comes from selflessness.

So when was the last time you were happy?

Hopefully, from now on...

Health at your fingernails

T

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November 2010

I

sn’t it embarrassing when people move their head an inch backwards while you speak?

Blame it on mouth odour or halitosis.

Bad breath results from two key issues: oral hygiene and gastrointestinal health, and in both cases the culprit is bacteria. Here are some food types which could provide relief:

1

Herbs – coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom are all good for fighting bad breath. You can chew on fresh herbs or make tonics by boiling them in hot water (as a tea).

ry the following tips to maintain healthy fingernails, avoid infections, and improve nail appearance: Keep your nails clean and dry.

Avoid nail-biting or picking.

Apply moisturiser to your nails and cuticles every day. Creams with urea, phospholipids, or lactic acid can help prevent cracking.

File your nails in one direction and round the tip slightly, rather than filing to a point.

Don’t remove the cuticles or clean too deeply under your nails, which can lead to infection.

Avoid nail polish removers that contain acetone or formaldehyde.

Bring your own instruments if you get frequent manicures to avoid infection.

Fight bad breath, chew on this

2

A recent study found that a serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odour-causing hydrogen sulphide in the mouth. The Vitamin D in it prevents bacterial growth as well.

3

Chomping on crunchy food that increases saliva production such as apples, carrots, and celery and other fibre-rich fruits or vegetables keep the mouth moist and clean.

If you have artificial nails, check regularly for green discoloration (a sign of bacterial infection).

According to Tamara Lior, MD, a dermatologist with Cleveland Clinic Florida, “Just like the eyes are the windows to the soul, so are the nails.”

4 5

Opt for sugarless gums - they can mask odour as well as increase saliva production.

Vitamin C-rich foods such as berries, melons and other citrus fruits are great for preventing gum disease and gingivitis – both major causes of halitosis.

Get the most out of tea-drinking

T

ea is the second most consumed beverage, only after...water (what were you thinking?).

But tea has its own course of action.

Tea contains anti-oxidants (a type of flavonoid), best known for anti-aging. The best way to extract other flavonoids in tea is to drink it freshly brewed. Decaffeinated, bottled ready-to-drink tea preparations, and instant teas have less of these compounds.

Tea can hinder the absorption of iron from fruits and vegetables. Adding lemon or milk or drinking tea between meals will neutralise this problem.

A cup of tea anyone?

spare the scissors,

save the hair Stairs Vs elevator If hitting the gym is cumbersome, why not opt for an easier and simpler way to work-out? Just hit the stairs!

A study shows that walking up stairs at a moderate intensity burns five calories a minute for a 120-pound person, seven for a 150-pound person, and nine for a 180-pound person. Running stairs multiplies the caloric burn and the cardiovascular benefit.

Apart from burning calories, walking the stairs also strengthens your muscles.

H

aven’t we all heard that cutting hair can make it grow faster? It’s time this myth gets busted...Hair growth stems from roots, not tips.

The key to long hair is trimming the damaged ends, not cutting inches and inches! Split ends make the hair more brittle and prone to damage. Getting them trimmed makes the hair look healthier. Moreover, let genetics and hormones dictate your hair growth pattern.

Cutting nails frequently doesn’t make them grow longer. Just pondering!

Benefits of sleep

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deally, eight hours of sleep can do wonders for your health, mind, body and skin.

Researchers believe that during sleep, brain cells can shut down and repair any damage done during the day. Tissue repair also occurs during sleep, including repair to the daily skin damage done by UV light. Getting enough deep sleep will help your skin repair itself.

Foods that might help you with a sound sleep are bananas, chamomile tea, honey, potatoes, oatmeal, almonds and flax seeds.

2010 November

11

wise

work

The

Magic of

Expression

Dance, write, meditate... what’s your quick fix antidote for a bad mood?

By Carolin Zeitler

Looking at her life, at all she had, she felt she should have been perfectly happy. But she wasn’t – she was tired, always tired.

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November 2010

‘I

’m going crazy!’ was all Nora could think. Her kids were fighting noisily over a toy, the dog was chewing up a sofa cushion and her husband was calling ‘Honey, where is my watch?’ from their upstairs bedroom, while Nora was trying to be there for everyone, take care of everything and keep an eye on the dinner that was about to boil over on the stove.

That was quite a typical evening at her house. As a consequence, Nora needed the mornings to recover. At night she often got woken up or couldn’t sleep. So once she had dropped off the kids and her husband had left in the morning, she just felt tired and heavy, she needed time to relax and chill out. Then she often felt guilty or even disgusted with herself for being so ‘lazy’, so she would drag herself over to her computer and try to do some research for her writing project. But once she sat there, she felt so tired that she would go back to bed for a rest or drag her feet around, trying to discipline herself into being productive.

The idea had been to stop working when they moved to Doha, so that she could finally realise her dream of writing a book and spend more time with her children.

Now it seemed to Nora that she was spending most of her time driving her children from

wise

work

Key behaviours: Now when Nora feels angry or frustrated, she goes up to her study and dances the feeling, expresses it fully.

A to B, thinking of ways to tell the maid what to do and what not to do without being rude or bossy or hurting her feelings, trying to make the house a home and provide healthy, delicious and ‘homely’ food for her family and generally taking all domestic issues off her husband’s hands.

Then there were the functions, of course, where she had to look beautiful, be charming and interested in her husband’s business affairs. She had to read the papers in the mornings to be informed on all the topics that were likely to come up in conversation.

Instead of enjoying these suave occasions, she felt they were a burden.

Looking at her life, at all she had, she felt she should have been perfectly happy. But she wasn’t – she was tired, always tired.

Then she went on holiday and stayed with Susie, an old friend, for a few days. The two of them played old records and danced around in Susie’s garden, laughing, singing and enjoying themselves. Nora just let herself go, she swayed and twirled and bopped to the music, she did the shimmy and the shake and she laughed and laughed with her friend. The two of them clowned around until Nora turned to Susie and said, “I haven’t felt so ‘good in my skin’ (a German expression for feeling comfortable with oneself) in years. This is so much fun!” The afternoon at her friend’s house, dancing in the garden, left her energised for three days.

When Nora came back to Doha, she quickly felt tired again. So she wanted to do something about it. Remembering the fabulous experience she had had in Susie’s garden, she put on one of her favourite tracks one morning and started dancing around the living room. It was great! Her arms were stretched out to the side, she felt free and open and twirled around, laughing and enjoying the music. She felt free and open and on top of the world. The more she

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November 2010

danced, the more she let her feelings speak through the movement, let her impulses lead her dance.

Since she was all alone, it wasn’t about what she looked like when she danced, it was about letting it all out, feeling free.

Now when Nora feels angry or frustrated, she doesn’t take the subject up with her family immediately, first she goes up to her study and dances the feeling, expresses it fully. Then she can go back and speak calmly with her family. And the morning dance has become part of her routine. Nora feels rejuvenated through her daily dance and is much more productive in the mornings now. She is also more fully present, which helps her through the busy evenings.

One definition of success is.... ... that your body and emotions are wellbalanced and in good health.

What did Nora do to make it happen?

She noticed that she was out of balance and acted upon it.

She noticed the positive effect of her holiday experience and duplicated it.

She makes time for herself and her dancing

Attitude Give yourself permission to be free, to do something for yourself, to enjoy the moment.

Interaction Communicate your need for personal space and time.

When you are upset, give it creative expression first, in music, dance, poetry, painting or whatever else comes naturally to you as a form of creative expression, then do the talking Flow Look at your typical week, your typical day, see where you can best make time for creative expression and exercise.

Schedule them into a regular slot.

How can that apply to your life?

Whenever you don’t ‘feel good in your skin’, remind yourself ... of a time when you felt great, when you felt ‘in flow’. What had brought it on? What form of exercise were you doing? ... that you can find balance by doing something you love, enjoy and thrive on, especially if it involves creative expression and exercise. ... to make time for yourself and your wellbeing. ... to express yourself, to put your feelings and thoughts into movement, music or pictures.

The writer is the Director & Founder of Arcata Interactive Communication Coaching and Initiator of the How Women Work Conference. She combined the skills and experience she gained from being a Personal Coach, Dance Therapist and Managing Director for many years to create unique coaching programmes that inspire, encourage and empower people to make a difference. For more information please go to www.arcata.cc Every month, until February 2011, Carolin tells us a story about a woman’s success and reflects upon what we can learn from it to broaden our own view of success. Then, in March 2011, the second How Women Work conference, powered by Woman Today, will be themed around success as well, to allow us to tackle the subject in a more interactive manner

Creatively y urs...

The path towards creativity is never an easy one. In the case of women, it is all the more filled with boulders, grime and criticism...

Here’s offering you a few names of women, who have strode the path of success in music, media, arts, photography and entertainment; with courage in their minds and passion in their hearts...

2010 November

17

women in

arts Alice Guy BlachÈ, was the first American woman film director, in the motion picture industry and is considered to be one of the first directors of a fiction film. She directed hundreds of short films and was the first woman to own and run her own studio plant – the Solax Studio.

Albena Danailova has been named the first female concertmaster of Vienna Philharmonic, one of the oldest and most venerated orchestras in the world. The Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, in which the masters of the Vienna Philharmonic play, is known for consisting mostly of men.

Alice Guy BlachÈ

Amy Beach

Albena Danailova

Annie Leibovitz Annie Leibovitz is known as one of the world’s leading entertainment photographers. Her highly acclaimed work has been featured in countless entertainment publications, including Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. In 1973, Annie made history by becoming the first female chief photographer of Rolling Stone.

Artemisia Gentileschi

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November 2010

Amy Beach’s “Gaelic Symphony” is the first symphony by a woman performed in the world. A member of the Boston Group – a group of classical music composers in the late 19th century, she is the lone female considered alongside composers John Knowles Paine, Arthur Foote, George Chadwick, Edward MacDowell, George Whiting, and Horatio Parker.

Dame Nellie Melba Australian opera singer Dame Nellie Melba became the first woman singer to be heard on radio when she sang at the Marconi works in Chelmsford, England in 1920.

Dame Nellie

Artemisia Gentileschi, an Italian Early Baroque painter, was the first female painter to become a member of the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence in an era when women painters were not easily accepted by the artistic community.

She was also one of the first female artists to paint historical and religious paintings, at a time when such heroic themes were considered beyond a woman’s reach.

Edith Wharton becomes the first American woman novelist to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1921 for fiction, winning for her novel The Age of Innocence.

Fannie Merritt

Diana Joseph

Fannie Merritt Farmer was the first woman to publish a cookbook, The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, in 1896.

Her cookbook introduced the concept of using standardised measuring spoons and cups, as well as level measurement, and became a widely used culinary text.

Diana Joseph Fouad Haddad is a Lebanese singer and television personality. She is one of the most popular and successful singers in the Arab World and has been so since the late 90s. She was a recordbreaker since her first song Saken in 1996, and she is still considered one of the most successful Arab female singers and one of the best selling singers in the Arab World.

Dorothea Lange

Edith Wharton

Gertrude Vanderbilt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney became the first woman to found a major art museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Her great wealth afforded her the opportunity to become a patron of the arts, but she also devoted herself to the advancement of women in art.

Elizabeth Cowell Dorothea Lange is heralded for being one of the first female commercial portrait photographers in the world.

She is best known for her work during the Great Depression, when she photographed the breadlines, the waterfront strikes, and the sheer desperation people displayed on a daily basis.

Elizabeth Cowell became the first woman TV announcer when she was chosen to host programmes on the BBC Television Service.

2010 November

19

women in

arts Inas Al-Degheidy is considered the most important Arab female director at the time being. She directed fourteen feature films and obtained several prizes in Egypt for the majority of her work. She was previously a Jury Member at the Cairo International and Carthage Festival.

Julia Roberts Julia Roberts became the first actress in 2001 to earn the same top dollar as men have earned – $20 million per film – when she took home that paycheque for Erin Brockovich. She also earned an Academy Award for that role.

Inas AlDegheidy

Janet Gaynor Janet Gaynor, an American actress, was one of the most popular actresses of the silent film era. In 1928, Janet became the first winner of the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performances in three films: Seventh Heaven (1927), Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) and Street Angel (1928). This was the only occasion on which an actress has won for multiple roles.

Margaret Bourke

Margaret Hughes It was in a production of Shakespeare’s “Othello” that Margaret Hughes became the first woman to act on the English stage, which earlier had only boys playing the female roles.

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November 2010

Margaret Bourke-White was a leading American photojournalist, and the world’s first female war correspondent. She photographed the drought victims of the Dust Bowl, the survivors at Buchenwald concentration camp, and Mahatma Gandhi a few hours before his assassination. Her haunting photos of the Depression in the book You Have Seen Their Faces created history.

Naomi Shihab Nye is a PalestinianAmerican poet, songwriter, and novelist. Her first collection of poems, Different Ways to Pray, explored the theme of similarities and differences between cultures. Her work won her four Pushcart Prizes, Jane Addams Children’s Book award, Paterson Poetry Prize, and many notable book and best book citations from the American Library Association, and a 2000 Witter Bynner Fellowship.

Naomi Shihab

Nawal AlZoghbi

Ruth Crawford Seeger was a modernist composer and an American folk music specialist. She became the first woman to win a Guggenheim Fellowship in composition for a year abroad. She spent time in Paris where she met Maurice Ravel and finished what becomes her best known work, her String Quartet 1931.

Nawal Al-Zoghbi is a Lebanese singer who performs in Arabic. She has a solid fan base throughout the Arab world and extending into North America and Europe. Her musical career has spanned over 20 years and she believes her success is due to the true emotion she delivers through her voice.

Umm Kulthum

Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlof was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, honoured in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterise her writings. She is known internationally for Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (a story for children, in the most common translation titled The Wonderful Adventures of Nils).

Ruth Crawford Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born in Tamay ez Zahayra village that belongs to El Senbellawein, she is known as the ‘Star of the East’. More than three decades after her death, she is still recognised as one of the Arab world’s most famous and distinguished singers of the 20th century.

Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi born British citizen, was the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in its 26 year history. Zaha has defined a radically new approach to architecture by creating buildings, such as the Rosenthal Centre for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati, with multiple perspective points and fragmented geometry to evoke the chaos of modern life.

Shirin Neshat

Selma Ottilia Shirin Neshat is an Iranian visual artist, known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. Her artwork explores issues of her native society, Iran, especially the position of women. Shirin’s photographs and videos have been included in many international exhibitions.

Zaha Hadid 2010 November

21

women in

arts

Of Minarets, Domes and Stereotypes First female designer of Mosques

The lady caught the attention of the world in 2008 as the first woman in Islam to design a Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

Orna Ballout talks to Zeynep Fadillioglu about her career and the Mosque which propelled her into the spotlight-ultimately making her a symbolic figure for women in Islam.

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November 2010

I

nternationally-renowned for her work on restaurants, clubs and homes of the elite, it may have come as a shock to Zeynep Fadillioglu when her interior design company was commissioned by the Sakir family to re-design the Sakirin Mosque in Turkey, in memory of their late mother and father. “When I was given this wonderful opportunity, I had many sleepless nights as I wanted to achieve the best possible outcome on a project that means so much to so many people,” she shares.

For years, the role of women in the Islamic world has been a subject prone to controversy and has sparked many debates. “At a time when so much is being discussed wrongly of Islam not allowing women to have equal rights, the fact that a woman can build a mosque disproves this,” she says.

Woman have always played an equal role in Fadillioglu’s family.

Born in Istanbul in 1955, she grew up in a beautiful house on the Bosphorus called Yali with her parents, aunt and cousins; luxurious surroundings where she gained much of her designer influences.

The mansion, an inheritance from her grandfather who used to work in a silk textile factory and was a fond collector of antiques, is magnificently decorated with a large array of orientalist paintings and vintage furniture; including a double-sided piano by Pleyel which was created for the Sultan Abdulhamid.

Her parents also had a high appreciation for art and design, both well educated, her father was a Dr of Economics and her mother has an Arts Degree. Recaling her childhood on the Bosphorus, she notes: “We often used to swim to visit friends houses. In our neighbourhood, the Bosphorous was our communication.”

It wasn’t a usual college route that led Zeynep into the design industry; first, she studied Computer Science at Sussex University, England, and then went on to study Programme and System Analysis before completing her education in Art History and Design at Inchbald School of Design in London.

However, after a number of years defining her business acumen working as a systems analyst, it was her husband’s restaurant and nightclub business which eventually enticed her into the realm of interior design. And in 1995 she founded her now prestigious company, Zeynep Fadillioglu Design.

Zeynep and her team, mostly made up of women, have been busy. They are diligently preparing for the next significant offerings which are inevitably set to spark interest with their unique designs. “We will soon be unveiling our projects in Doha, two Mosques and a restaurant in the Cultural Village that will hopefully attract the attention of the world.”

Since its beginnings, the company has taken pride in striving for excellence and delivering each project with the utmost proficiency to achieve the best results. The dedicated team of 18 professionals consisting of architects, interior designers, artists and graphic designers, all of whom are experts in their designated field, has accomplished the building and design of 140 projects in countries across the world including Qatar, Turkey, India and London.

On various occasions the company has triumphed sought after awards including the “Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of The Year” award at The House and Garden Fair in London, in 2002, and the “Modern designer of The Year Awards” at the Design and Decoration Awards in London 2005.

Whilst all of these projects and achievements have

a special meaning to her, the re-design of The Sakirin Mosque in Istanbul is of great significance and holds a special place in her heart. Not only is it a masterpiece of exquisite design; it’s a symbolic reference point in her career that thrust her name into the spotlight as the first ever woman in Islam to design a Mosque.

“In the Sakirin Mosque I wanted to express myself in a new way as our Prophet has said that everyday should be a new day for us. My inspiration for the design is based on Muslim, Ottoman and Seljuk roots.

I wanted to leave traces of our times, not a copy of the past, otherwise the new generation would be unaware of us living in this century,” she says.

The 130 ft diameter dome-shaped Mosque boasts a marvellous contemporary look mixed with Islamic and Ottoman details. “I worked with both traditional and modern artists, this dual effect brought another dimension of linking understanding with believer’s roots,” she reveals about the inspiration behind the fusion.

The facade of the structure consists of wrought-iron grills and glass. On entry to the Mosque, a turquoise mihrab catches the eye, its colouring resembling tiles

“At a time when so much is being discussed wrongly of Islam not allowing women to have equal rights, the fact that a woman can build a mosque disproves this.” from the Seljuk times.

A grand chandelier consisting of three interwoven rings dominates the ceiling, carrying inscriptions with the 99 names of God and the Nur Sura from the Quran; adorning this chandelier are carefully crafted spectacular drops of glass which are inspired by a prayer that says Allah’s light should fall on you like rain.

In the courtyard, a water fountain in the shape of a metal sphere commands the peaceful surrounding, with the metal cleverly reflecting the sky and the Mosque to symbolise the universe.

“It is a sincere privilege that my team has successfully accomplished a Mosque of such fine artistic craftsmanship, a place where people can find peace whilst connecting with God.” Besides creating mesmerising mosques and works of art; Zeynep manages to juggle between professions of designer, lecturer and grandmother in her busy schedule. She teaches Design Management and a culture programme in Bilgi University, Turkey, and has just welcomed the newest addition to her close-knit family with the birth of her daughter’s son.

2010 November

23

women in

arts

Qatar’s first female stand-up comic Hanadi Hassan in conversation with Myriam Chandna.

A

mong the likes of Ahmed Ahmed and Bilal Randeree, both inter nationally renowned stand-up comedians, stood Hanadi Hassan – the first Qatari woman to have stepped into the arena and taken it by a storm. Poised, graceful, and blessed with a quirky sense of humour, Hanadi impressed her audience with her effortless wit and quick-to-the-punch delivery at Karak Talk – a closed community event organised by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) and Qatar Foundation to kick-start a series of events featuring stand-up comedy routines in Doha.

From her initially reserved demeanour, it is easy to jump to the conclusion that Hanadi is, at least when she is not performing, a rather quiet individual. She immediately corrects this misconception.

“I am very talkative, I just haven’t had my coffee yet!” she says.

Many comedians confess that it isn’t easy being funny, but Hanadi is certainly not one of them. She considers herself to be naturally blessed with a funny bone.

“I’m all comedy,” says Hanadi. “I just love people who make me laugh, shows that make me laugh. It

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makes my day when I meet someone who has a great sense of humour. I mean, being funny is the key to communicating with me. If you’re funny, I’ll instantly fall in love with you!” she says.

Born and raised in Al Khor, Qatar, Hassan attended a local girls’ school and later went on to study at the College of North Atlantic in Qatar. She is one of seven siblings and currently resides with her family in Al Khor, from where she makes regular trips to Doha to be part of the tweet-up meetings.

It was at one of these tweet-up meetings, which Hanadi religiously attended, where her career as a

comedian was launched.

“People kept telling me 'you’re so funny, you should be doing something'. My friends always encouraged me, but the tweet-ups – a platform for twitter users in the country to come together and share their ideas – is where I really discovered that I am capable of doing something like stand-up comedy,” she says.

“Every tweet-up has its own theme or we all collectively pick a subject that we discuss. And once it happened to be stand-up comedy, and I who had just gone there as an audience was cracking jokes to a friend when Bilal Randeree from Al Jazeera News Network, who is also a regular at the meets, told me: ‘Why don’t you just get up and do it? You’re hilarious,” she says.

And as Hanadi stood there in front of a relatively small crowd, sharing entirely improvised jokes and making light of political, cultural, and social facets of daily life in Qatar, she knew that she had instantly won herself some hearts.

“Initially I was like, ‘Oh my God, no way! In front of all those people, I can’t.’ But then I just did, and people were actually laughing. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, they find me amusing, which means I can do this again. I got addicted to the rush of this thing!” she says.

Stand-up comedians in Doha are few, and female stand-up comedians are even fewer. In addition to being a minority in a minority, Hanadi is also a Qatari national - which makes her the only female stand-up

Comedy should exceed all limits, talk about your wife, your family, embarrass yourself! It has to be sarcastic and witty, or it isn’t comedy, comedian in a highly traditional society.

“There were, and still are, too many challenges. I mean, not many people have seen a Qatari woman stand up and crack jokes in such a public space. I didn’t know how people would react to it, and I didn’t want to make anybody uncomfortable,” says Hanadi.

“I was afraid that foreigners may either become nervous, or be obliged to laugh at my jokes. And of course, the dramatic entrance in front of so many strangers was also something that intimidated me, but when I took the stage, I was filled with confidence and I knew that I connected with my audience which contained mostly young people.”

All in good faith When preparing her script for her first stand-up routine, Hanadi was cautioned about jokes that may offend her own people.

“Well I try not to offend people, but if they still do get offended, I don’t care. Comedy should exceed all limits, talk about your wife, your family, embarrass yourself! It has to be sarcastic and witty, or it isn’t comedy,” she says.

So what motivated her to go ahead and deliver her first performance to the Education City (EC) community?

“EC gave me the perfect audience. Seriously, when foreigners come to Qatar they are always warned that Qatari women are not to be approached or talked to, you have to respect the rules and traditions, and so on. But, we are developing every single day, and there are Qatari men and women who like to interact with foreigners and learn more about the world outside. And I want people to see that,” she says.

During her performance at Karak Talk, she touched on several social issues pertaining to Qatari society, and found her humorous treatment of them to be welcomed by Qataris and foreigners alike.

“Yes, we are Qataris, and we have free healthcare, water, electricity, and even free plastic surgery - the reason I always fail to recognise my friends from high school!” she said at Karak Talk, provoking a roar of laughter from among the audience.

“I know everyone gets embarrassed by their family once in a while, but my family, oh my God! Last summer I had a lip piercing, and my Mom went around telling people that I was possessed by a demon,” she added, once again, sending the crowd into fits of laughter.

Despite her initial fear, her jokes were received just as they were delivered – in good faith.

“I got great feedback, I couldn’t believe it. The most shocking part was that, I was appreciated by so many Qataris. At the end of the performance, some Qatari guys and girls came up to me and they were like, ‘Come on, there is a lot you can say about Qataris, so many jokes you can crack!’ And here I was thinking I’d offend them, and they just craved more.

At one point I was doubting it, like, is this for real?” she says.

A career in Comedy With a successful and much talked about first performance, Hanadi admits that she would not hesitate to consider stand-up comedy as a full-time career, even if she is granted the opportunity at another time in another place.

“When you’re in a city like New York for example, where comedy is up and running, it is easy to be focused and become overwhelmed with what you love.

Comedy is a narrow field, especially here in Qatar. It will not be something permanent in Qatar, as far as I can see. Also, I can’t deny that there are restrictions here, and somebody someday is not going to like what I do, and I’ll be picked on constantly. So I do see it as a full-time career, definitely, but just not here,” she says.

“I can be optimistic and say things will change and I’ll be able to do this here. But I am young, and I want to do it now! I don’t want to wait for people to grow used to comedy and the world to develop to be acceptable in a society. I want to do it now, now, now!”

Jokes aside (pun intended), Hanadi credits her family to being the backbone of her success. According to her, they do not fall under the stereotype which

clouds the identity of the family structure in most Gulf or Khaleeji countries.

“My family is aware of everything I do. I enjoy good communication with my family, and as long as I am not doing anything that is harmful to me or to them, it’s all good. Of course, they are traditional, but they are also open to my ideas, some of them at least (laughs).”

At 23, Hanadi is more than just an entertaining young woman in a conservative society. An administrative assistant at a major oil company in Qatar, Hanadi is also a seasoned make-up artist and has worked in many photo shoots around Doha, including one for BeHip – a talent management company based in Doha.

“I am crazy about fashion and make-up! I don’t go for particular labels, but I like to mix and match articles from different designers and then create my own style. I also love styling other people, making them beautiful,” she says.

When not performing comedy sketches or working miracles with her make-up tools, Hassan can be found on her couch munching on chocolate and watching her favourite comedy shows and movies.

So far, Chappelle’s Show – American stand-up comedian David Chappelle’s phenomenal series of comedy skits – tops the list which also includes Family Guy, Seinfield, and Will & Grace.

“David inspires me, he makes me laugh like crazy.

And Will & Grace leaves me laughing for hours,” she says.

If she does manage to kick off her career as a stand-up comedian on an international level, her biggest reward would be the opportunity to travel around the world, says Hanadi.

“The farthest I have been is London. And since I went with Qataris, they took me to visit other Qataris there, and it was pretty much the same. I’d love to see New York, perhaps even live there,” she says.

Brave and armed with dreams that promise limitless possibilities, Hanadi looks forward to promoting stand-up comedy among the youth of Doha, for as long as it lasts 2010 November

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men

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Salma Hayek was out and about, and was quite obviously the toast of Doha Tribeca Film Festival 2010. And then there was Freida Pinto and Mira Nair... But it was not just the Hollywood glitterati who descended on Doha this October. Rising stars from film industries across the globe, and some very interesting names from the region, provided a cinematic treat for film buffs.

We look at the growing power of women in the industry, and in exclusive interviews to Woman Today, directors, actresses and producers share their passion for the art.

By Vani Saraswathi

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“Wars are unworthy of mankind” Who or what inspired you to enter the film industry?

Vibeke LØkkeberg

V

ibeke Løkkeberg was born in 1945 in Bergen, Norway. She is married to Terje Kristiansen who also works as her producer .

Vibeke is one of Norway’s most well known personalities and leading feminist artists as actor, director, screenwriter and author.

She started out as a fashion model in Rome, Copenhagen, Paris and London in the early 60s.

Witnessing the maiming and killing of children in a war, without being able to do anything about it, was a great challenge, she says. “The glimpse of children’s faces displayed on my TV set, after they had lived through the war, was my motivation for making Tears of Gaza. A protest against all wars grew inside me.

Wars are senseless, destructive, unworthy of mankind. Wars are never a solution to bilateral problems in the long run.”

In 1964, I was very young and a model in Europe. I soon realised that to be objectified in that manner was limiting my definition of self. After playing the lead role in three feature films in Norway and Europe, I decided to do my own scripts and films and create a more honest image of women.

I was very inspired by the women’s liberation movement that started in the early 70s in Europe and therefore my first films were documentaries on themes that concern women.

In 1977 I made my first feature film. From the 70s and up to the 90s we had a good radical period internationally with many good roles for women and also with many women directors.

I feel that since the 90s there has been a regression in the west, in themes regarding women. The male point of view in the telling of stories is again in dominance and even women are making films in that tone.

Interestingly, I now meet young, upcoming female directors in the region who have the same attitude that I remember from my younger days. That gives hope for the region.

What are your most memorable moments as a filmmaker?

That is complicated after such a long career that gave me an opportunity to meet so many actors, directors and writers; but working on this feature documentary about children and women in Gaza took up two very hard and memorable years. It is with great admiration I look back on those two years and I hope I have given them the respect they deserve.

Do you think the hold and bandwidth of Hollywood tends to cripple smaller industries across the world?

Yes, very much. Hollywood is the big lifestyle industry and crushes the smaller fragile cultures and languages. We have to work to protect the small voices across the world

Tears of Gaza

In a rough style, by way of unique footage, the brutal consequences of modern wars are exposed. The film also depicts the ability of women and children to handle their everyday life after a dramatic war experience. Many of them live in tents or in ruins without walls or roofs. They are all in need of money, food, water and electricity. Others have lost family members, or are left with seriously injured children. Can war solve conflicts or create peace? The film follows three children through the war and the period after the ceasefire.

2010 November

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“My vocation is my passion”

Nadia Hamzeh

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adia Hamzeh, is an award winning directorwriter-producer-actress from Syria.

Nadia says that when she was five and watching a film on television, she knew that this was the line for her. “I don’t remember which film it was exactly but it took place somewhere in Europe during the middle ages. I was fascinated by that magical ‘make-believe’ world of the film, the amazing dresses of that era and how one was able to take a journey to the past and learn about a different culture and different world and even live in it temporarily through the magic of film. I decided then, at that specific moment that I wanted to become an Actress.”

She pursued that goal, graduated with a BFA in Acting from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Damascus and started her acting career in Syria. However, she always felt that there was something bigger itching to come out, and that she had too many stories she wanted to tell and messages to deliver to the world.

Since cinema was always her passion – “I see it as a prolific tool for expressing ideas that could reach a universal audience” – she decided to study film directing in the US. She received a Fulbright scholarship and did my Masters of Fine Arts in Film Directing in the USA and the rest is history.

How do you perceive the portrayal of women in Arab films?

It’s difficult to generalise an opinion about that because Arab films vary depending on the country. The portrayal of women differs because each Arab coun-

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try has its own society related issues that the filmmaker reflects in his/ her film. I’ve seen women portrayals in Egyptian films that were different from women portrayals in let’s say Lebanese or Tunisian films. Therefore, I can’t put it all under one umbrella since the Arab societies differ amongst each other between the Middle East and the North West of the Arab world. But I can say that I’ve seen films that portrayed women as victims and others that showed women as strong characters that want to break free from the chains of their society and often end up as victims as well.

How active are women in the industry, in the region?

Overall the film industry in the Arab regions is not a place where you usually find women active. I’m talking behind the camera. There is probably just a handful of women directors (if even that many) that actually made feature films in the Arab world in the past two decades. And I know that even those very few female directors had a hard time getting their films made due to various obstacles put in their ways, often only because they are women or they are voicing their opinion from a female perspective.

Do you think there is potential for Arab films to go global?

There is potential for the cinema of any nation to go global especially in this digital age, however if you mean global as in “global like the Hollywood movies”, that’s another issue. Ideally, sure the potential could be there if there is strong support for Arab filmmakers and if the script and theme of the film could cater to a universal audience.

There are many barriers in stories from the Arab world that might not be understood by a global audience such as cultural backgrounds, society chains and traditions, not to mention the language barrier.

But if the filmmaker can write and deliver the story in

a way that on one hand stays true to his beliefs and origins, and on the other hand is crafted in a cinematic language that can be understood around the globe and on top of that find financial support to realise his ideas; well in that case everything is possible.

But in reality the Arab filmmaker is not in an easy position.

While there is a rich film production culture in Egypt, it is very hard to make films in other Arab countries merely because there is no film industry there yet. It is still struggling to come out and hopefully someday we would have a united Arab film industry infrastructure, because the talent is there but talent without financial support isn’t enough to make blockbuster level films or big production box office hits that sell globally . There’s a reason it is called the “Film Business” and not “Film Arts”. But the dreamy hopeful filmmaker in me of course always looks forward and hopes that my generation of up and coming Arab filmmakers will get supported to realize our ideas.

But for a region such as this, are films as a career choice appealing?

Probably. I never really looked at it that way because the motivation and reason I am in the film industry is different; it’s not the appeal that attracted me. I do this career because there is a constant itching artistic voice inside of me that wants to get out and keeps pushing me forward.

It’s the passion and love I have to be an Actress and Film director that makes me do it. It’s a very tough business and in many times an “Art without bread” as they say in Europe. The appeal and status come with success, that’s a result but not a motive in my personal opinion. There are probably other careers that are more stable and less stressful than the film business and with which one could achieve appeal even faster. But I still prefer being an Actress and filmmaker than anything else.

in front of the camera, I saw that the camera team would hold their laughs until we cut the scene and then burst out laughing. This was amazing, because then I would feel the immediate “audience” reaction through them, and I was happy that they enjoyed what they saw. This also created an overall collaborative and nice team work atmosphere. So I’m always grateful to all the wonderful people who were part of the journey in making this film.

Entertain or Educate – what should be the first intent of films?

Tell us more about Fiasco.

It tells the story of Noura, a freedom seeking Arab girl on the verge of realising her American dream with utterly unusual ways, who suddenly finds herself on very thin ice when her conservative father arrives in the US for a surprise visit.

This film won the prestigious student EMMY Award for Best Comedy from the American Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in addition to other awards and festival screenings worldwide.

It was ironic however, that during the making of the film it literally lived up to its title Fiasco, but despite the tough circumstances and the fiasco under which we were operating I am so proud and grateful to my team, the cast and crew. And since it was a comedy we did enjoy shooting the scenes.

There are many memorable moments. For instance I was acting and directing in this film and often after shooting a funny scene with my fellow actors

I would say to entertain. But I like films that entertain and at the same time educate, I think comedy films are a great tool for that because there are certain tough subjects when delivering them to the audience in a comedy package, they not only entertain them but make them think even harder about what they see. And most comedies and situation comedies come from a place of suffering and the protagonist is always in distress anyway.

What does your family think of what you do?

As any girl who grows up in the Middle East, I faced a lot of challenges and it wasn’t easy to convince others that this was the right career to do. And looking back I certainly understand that as family they would be worried when their child chooses an unstable career that could either lead to a lot of success or to becoming a starving artist, not to mention what the society thinks of it.

But when I started my acting career in Syria and they saw my work on television and stage they were very happy for me.

And then again it wasn’t easy for them when I

Fiasco Fiasco is a cross cultural comedy about an Arab girl, Noura, who is secretly married to her American and gay best friend Daniel to obtain the green card so she can stay in America and become a big artist. All of which she hid from her conservative Arabic family who actually sent her to America to study Medicine. The green card interview is in two days and everything seems to be going as planned, when suddenly Noura’s conventional and dominating father Fareez shows up in the U.S. unannounced for a surprise visit.

decided to leave to the US for several years to do my MFA in Film directing. They were very proud however, and they attended my graduation in USA and I definitely knew I did the right thing when I was screening my film for the first time for them at the Film Academy’s theatre.

I was quite nervous but my family was laughing so much during the screening and it was like music to my ears. And that same film Fiasco went on to win the prestigious student EMMY award from the American Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Best Comedy, and it is playing for the first time in the Middle East at DTFF 2010

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Maryam Zaree

“Great films reflect society, give new ideas...”

G

erman actress Maryam Zaree was born in Tehran in 1983. Her mother fled political persecution by the Iranian regime in 1985, and took Maryam with her. Maryam grew up and went to school in Frankfurt/Main. At the age of 18, she had her film debut as one of the lead roles in the graduate film Herbstzeitlose in 2005. Maryam studied at the renowned film school Konrad Wolf in Potsdam Babelsberg. During that time, she appeared in several short films produced by different film schools.

2006 marked her cinema debut as one of the lead roles in Luzius Rueedi’s Sunny Hill.

She also played one of the leads in the graduate film Mein Vogel Fliegt Schneller by Gülseli Bille Baur, which premiered at the film festival Max Ophüls Preis.

Who or what inspired you to enter the film industry?

The first time I was confronted with acting was when I was seven; I was part of a school theatre group and instantly thought that this is what I want to spend my life doing. When I grew older I became more rational and started thinking about law or an academic career but still had the silent dream of one day becoming an actress. Later I had great luck working with a really passionate theatre teacher at high school and after that it seemed clear that this was my way to go.

I chose to go into films and acting because I love it

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and I believe in it. Films give the wonderful opportunity of different artistic departments working together and creating a world. A great script is nothing without the camera to visualise it or the set design to build it. Acting needs the story and so on. It’s like a miracle when everything goes together and at the end you have a film.

How do you perceive the portrayal of women in films in general, Arab films in particular?

I can’t talk specifically on the portrayal of women in Arab films because I don’t have enough exposure to comment on it. But generally, in my opinion, complex, emancipated, interesting female characters should find their way much more into scripts and films.

How was the Shahada experience?

The whole experience with Shahada was great. Starting with a courageous script to intensive work on the character and at last having success with the result. It was all very pleasing and encouraging.

Who are your favourites?

I love cinema and there are too many to name but two actors whose work I admire a lot are Isabelle Huppert and Daniel Day Lewis. Filmmakers: Lars Von Trier, Freres Dardenne, David Lynch, Michael Haneke, Billy Wilder, Abbas Kiarostami to name a few.

What should be the first intent of films? To entertain or to educate?

In my opinion great films reflect society or certain perspectives, give new ideas, challenge, stimulate artistically and that I find entertaining and educating at the same time.

What were you family’s thoughts on films as a vocation?

My parents were supportive but it was also important for them to realise that I was serious about acting.

When I got accepted at acting school I thought that it was a big step. Now I also realise that it’s a lifelong learning process and that you have to work hard to grow and get better as a person and as an artist

Shahada During a razzia for clandestine employees in a warehouse, the fates of three young German-born Muslims collide.

Ismail, a police officer of Turkish descent, is about to break his loyalty towards his badge and his wife as he finds himself attracted to illegal immigrant Leyla.

Sammi is torn between his Muslim faith and his irresistible desire for one of his male co-workers, despite his friends’ violent homophobia. He is appeased by the local Imam, a liberal religious leader revered by the community, who is going through a crisis of his own: his daughter, Maryam, is moving into an ultraconservative direction although she has been raised so tolerantly.

The three of them must find their place between faith and modern life in a contemporary Western society, between the luring liberated lifestyle and tradition.

“Hollywood female characters are less interesting” non-fiction, to completely transport us into another world.

How do you perceive the portrayal of women in films both at the international level, and in the US? Well, as a documentary filmmaker, when looking at the women portrayed in documentaries, I think there are some incredible examples both in the US and internationally of strong, dynamic, interesting women.

In fiction films, I think there are some great portrayals of women and some awful ones. In Hollywood, in general, female characters are less interesting and less dynamic than their male counterparts. But in independent films, there are more and more complicated and well-written roles for women.

Robin Hessman

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obin Hessman graduated from Brown University with a dual degree in Russian and Film.She received her graduate degree in film directing from the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow (with a “red diploma” of honours). She received an Academy Awardin 1994 – with co-director James Longley – for their student film, Portrait of Boy with Dog. During her eight years living in Russia, Robin worked for the Children’s Television Workshop as the on-site producer of Ulitsa Sezam, the original Russian-language Sesame Street.

Her feature-length documentary directing debut, My Perestroika, premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival as part of the US Documentary competition.

Robin is also an Associate of Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian Studies and is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Who or what inspired you to enter the film industry?

Honestly, I think it was a combination of things. Both my love and involvement in music, theatre and photography made film seem a natural progression. But also, I remember when I arrived in the Soviet Union for the first time as an 18-year-old, I was mesmerised and realised that nothing I had read had prepared me for what it felt like for me to be there. And I realised I had never seen a film that was set there and thought about the unique power of film, both fiction and

My Perestroika My Perestroika follows five ordinary Russians living in extraordinary times – from their sheltered Soviet childhood, to the collapse of the Soviet Union during their teenage years, to the constantly shifting political landscape of post-Soviet Russia.

Together, these childhood classmates paint a complex picture of the dreams and disillusionments of those raised behind the Iron Curtain.

As a vocation/career, do films hold an appeal now? At different levels – technical, artistic etc.?

In the US, many young people dream of going into the film industry in a variety of capacities. But people also recognise that it is a difficult life with little economic security in the profession. So that dissuades many people, who prefer not to worry about how to pay their rent.

If not what you do now, what would you have been? An alternative career choice?

When I was little, I wanted to be a paediatrician. In high school, I thought I might become a photojournalist or a diplomat and join the foreign service. I might have gone into academia, but now I really can’t imagine not being part of the wonderful international documentary film community.

A few lines about your film.

As the film took over five years to make, the production was filled with memorable moments. One of the most significant is the evening where I met the family who became the central subjects of the film. I went over to their house for dinner and, over the course of the evening, we pulled out the 8mm home movies of the father’s childhood. We sat there for many hours watching the movies, and during our conversation I knew I had met the subjects of my film.

Your favourite film folks?

I like the work of the documentary filmmakers Laura

Poitras and Alan Berliner. In the fiction world, as far as actresses go, I love Patricia Clarkson, Meryl Streep, Juliette Binoche, Catherine Keener – the smart women actresses.

What should be the first intent of films? To entertain or to educate?

I think there is room for films whose intent is purely to entertain and also for films that make us think and entertain us at the same time. But a film whose sole intent is to educate can often feel heavy-handed or didactic.

Do you think the hold and bandwidth of Hollywood tends to cripple smaller industries across the world?

I’m sure the strength of Hollywood does harm domestic film industries in other countries. What is most disappointing for me is that it makes it harder for us in the US to get to see some of the wonderful work being produced in other countries. And that’s one reason I love going to film festivals. And I feel blessed to get the chance to see films that will not be released in the United States 2010 November

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“It’s magic when entertainment meets education”

How do you perceive the portrayal of women in Arab films?

Nayla Al-Khaja

N

ayla Al-Khaja, of UAE, is the first Emirati female film producer and director. She owns D-SEVEN Motion Pictures, a film production company.

A graduate of Dubai Women’s College with a degree in Mass Communication in 1999, she had her own successful travel show on Arabian Radio Network.

However, she realised her true calling was filmproduction prompting her to apply to Ryerson University in Canada, well known for its Film making program. She graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor in Image studies-Filmmaking.

Her film Once (2009) is the only Arab Gulf entry at the 2010 Doha Tribeca Film Festival

Who or what inspired you to enter the film industry?

Without realising it, my father was the main source.

When I was little my father collected a large library of black and white Indian films, the ones you never hear about today, from the 40s, 50s and 60s. I was fascinated with the magical world of storytelling and remember how one particular film captured my heart – Boot Polish. It was a story about a family that was separated through misfortune and hardship. In way it reflected my own life and I knew then that film will be my life and a magical place to escape to and create other worlds.

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Apart from very few films, women in Arab cinema are either obedient housewives, or evil plotting schemers, or used as a sex symbol or need to be rescued.

It seems that they are either black or white and have no depth or complex characters and perhaps that is why a film like Caramel was a breath of fresh air that didn’t confine to the clichès of women in Arab films.

How active are women in the industry, in the region?

The film industry male dominated, world over, so I believe the case is true and even more apparent in the Arab world. Women are still a very tiny fraction of the industry due to perhaps, cultural, social, traditional and religious factors. But the ones who are in the industry are very active and try their best to be part of film making scene. Women began playing a prominent roles worldwide in the late 70s, so in general women got in very late and it will naturally take time for more of us to be part of the industry.

Do you think there is potential for Arab films to go global?

Absolutely. The global market share of alternative cinema is three percent while Hollywood and Hollywood co-productions make up the rest. So if an Arabic film due to the market structure links up with a Hollywood production then a global release can happen. The UK is a good example of how Hollywood has invested in marketing their films. Indian, Chinese, and some Latin films have had similar paths. I believe Noor Investment in Qatar and Imagenation Abu Dhabi both are delving into co-producing their Arabic

films with American companies to obtain global status. Many factors should also be kept in mind such as the distribution of language in the film, global appeal, commercial value, so although it hinders the pure creative control of a filmmaker I believe a few cases will find a solution around it to make the American dominant distributers take an interest in Arab themed films.

As a vocation/career, do films hold an appeal? At different levels - technical, artistic etc.

Filmmaking is one of the most misunderstood careers and mediums. I believe this is due to its vastness; it overwhelms us by seeming unattainable and wildly attractive. But the truth is it is the sort of career where it gobbles you up and turns you into a moving camera, obsessing about movement and situations.

It totally consumes the artist and businessman alike.

It has an amazing return of wonder and love; if your film does well, there is no other satisfaction like it, and if your film does not do well, you will not give up because almost all the filmmakers I know have one common character – perseverance. It is a career that requires an unbelievable amount of dedication and hard work; it takes at times years to finish one film, and so although it has a glamour factor to it, that is only a fraction of the whole. It is also one of those careers where you work with people all the time and learn to be flexible and understanding. On a spiritual level, film can promote peace and melts down most stereotypes, film makers travel a lot and get an intimate view of other worlds and cultures by bringing people together and celebrating their similarities.

If not what you do now, what

would you have been? An alternative career choice?

I would have been a full time painter and an art curator. I think that is what I will do when I won’t be physically capable of being on a film set, I will go back to cherishing canvases.

What is the most memorable moment of Once?

It is a simple story of the anxiety and excitement of going on your first date and what it means in context to your background. Is it taboo to date? Is it done but not spoken about? I want to raise many questions about the state of women dating in secret. Memorable moment is when I got terrible news of my main actor who was stuck in another country and could not make it on set, I had seven hours to find a replacement and to my great luck the “father” character in the film had a son who fit the role of the “boyfriend” so on set I had to work with the father and his real son who were both playing against each other in the film. It got so confusing on and off set!

Your influences in the industry?

I love Stanley Kubrick, his attention to detail is unquestionable and that sort of dedication has inspired me, his film Clockwork Orange is one my favourite films and it hangs in my office, I also enjoy Godard a lot. Among women directors, Deepa Mehta’s artistic vision and strong personality has influenced me, she is a wonder woman and a fantastic film maker. Daniel Day Lewis is my favourite actor as he is so versatile and super talented; I also hope to cast Charlotte Gainsbourg one day.

What should be the first intent of

films? To entertain or to educate?

Commercial cinemas mostly entertain, while alternative cinema educates, but magic truly happens when you give your audience the best of both worlds. The latter becomes inspiring, memorable and lasting.

Arab films tend to swing between the two extremes of absolute entertainment with no hint of realism, or films that deal with grave issues of war and civil unrest. Your comment?

Perhaps it is an indication of the Arab political/emotional state of mind. They use cinema to escape their realities or use it to express their issues. I believe a new wave of Arabic cinema is emerging and it will bring a variety of incredible voices and stories and I just hope that we as Arabs will find a way to market our good and “different” films to a wider audience.

How supportive has your family been?

My parents always thought I would be a full time painter, as I have always painted and own my own little gallery. When I took to films they were quite shocked. I am the first woman filmmaker in my country so to them they had no other woman to look at as a role model; fear crawled in and I had to face lots of heated arguments to convince them that the medium is and can be good. Now after many years they have accepted my career and have taken a neutral stand. I know they will come to accept it fully one day. I do not regret getting into this industry, it has been most rewarding and uplifting. I get mails from young women how inspired they are by my career choice and how they need support to be part of it, that on its own says a lot. I knew from the time I received the first mail I was on to something good

Hamda is a young Arabic teenager, her mother died when she was young making amda’s fathers her only guardian.

Hamda’s father Ahmed even though a gentle father never established a connection that is made between a mother and daughter. The film revolves around the day Hamda is to meet with her boyfriend Saeed for the first time. The film shows the journey Hamda goes through to meet her boyfriend for half an hour.

The journey shows Hamda’s best friend Amna covering for her, Hamda lying to her father, Hamda going to the hair salon transforming herself from a young girl to a beautiful young woman and then travelling to meet her boyfriend with the excitement of meeting and fear of getting caught. Hamda thrives on excitement yet knows the big risk she is taking by meeting Saeed for the first time. Hamda and Saeed get to meet, however not all goes to plan as soon they are both interrupted.

2010 November

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women in

arts

“Having to fight for what you want can make you stronger” roles too – both in front of and behind the camera. I feel proud to be part of that progression.

humble, passionate, honest. Always looking for the best thing. That’s it!

What are your expectations from festivals such as DTFF? I have been to several festivals before DTFF, and each one is unique. I look forward to exploring the city and the festival!

I think the film industry is very appealing, but it certainly takes time and sweat to work your way in...

If not what you do now, what would you have been? An alternative career choice?

I worked in web design for a while – I like to think of it as four-dimensional story-telling.

Debs Gardner-Paterson

B

orn in Taiwan but educated in India and England, Debs Gardner-Paterson has lived, worked and traveled all over Asia, Africa, America and Europe. A fourth generation Rwandan and a literature major at Cambridge University, she directed four award-winning short films. Africa United is her debut feature.

Who or what inspired you to enter the film industry?

The stories that I grew up with, and learned along the way, have been hugely influential in my life. I am excited by the role that stories play in society – and feel that film is the most powerful and playful narrative medium.

How do you perceive the portrayal of women in films both at international level, and in the region you hail from? And how active are women in the industry there?

I don’t really know where I come from – I grew up all over the place! I think the portrayal of women is becoming much more flexible, exploratory, and reflective of female (and not just male) experience. And that can only be a good thing.

I think women are very active in London. Perhaps there are more women in supportive roles, in terms of percentages, but there are a lot of women in leading

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November 2010

Your most memorable moment during the making of the film?

The whole thing has been memorable! We have gone from a tiny idea to finished film in under two years – and a huge experience to boot. The kids (main actors) have been my favourite part of the experience – I love them to bits.

Your favorite film personality?

I am a big fan of George Clooney’s career.

What should be the first intent of films? To entertain or to educate?

To entertain. Whether it’s intended or not, films always educate.

Do you think the hold and bandwidth of Hollywood tends to cripple smaller industries across the world?

It’s difficult to say – I’m not an expert, and having grown up in the indie scene and having worked in arthouse cinemas, it’s hard to feel like output is crippled – there are amazing films being made. Sometimes having to fight a bit for what you want can make it – and you – stronger.

What role has your family played in the career choice you’ve made?

Encouragement from family and friends has been a crucial part of this whole process – but I also think it’s important not to let film-making get away with you.

At the end of the day we only have to be good humans – no matter what profession. Caring, creative,

Africa United Africa United is a road trip through the heart of Africa.

Three Rwandan children set off to Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali, to audition for the opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. The children are Rwandan football prodigy Fabrice, his best friend and ‘manager’ Dudu, and Dudu’s little sister Beatrice.

They sneak onto a bus... ...the wrong bus.

Instead of arriving in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, they end up in the Congo.

Lost in a dangerous country, without papers, money or a believable story, they are taken to a children’s refugee camp where they meet the mysterious teenager Foreman George.

They know they have missed the audition, so decide to head straight to Johannesburg, in South Africa, for the opening ceremony.

En route they are joined by escaped sex worker Celeste and together they travel 3,000 miles, surviving wild animals, the elements and gun-wielding thugs Tulu and Egg.

“Living in Palestine as a refugee is like living in a movie” Who or what inspired you to enter the film industry?

Living in historical Palestine as a refugee makes you act like you’re living in a movie. This is due to the confusion that results from living under a political situation, that imposes on you a double identity. I wanted to break away from the path most Palestinian women decide to follow in their careers, that is why I became a part of the world of film industry.

How did the making of My Name is Ahlam affect you?

Rima Essa

R

ima Essa graduated from the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School-Jerusalem in 2003. Rima is an activist and filmmaker dedicated to making films centring on the Palestinian Israeli Conflict.

She worked as a director for the Sadaa Media Project – a web-based broadcast network specialising in portraying the conflict in Jerusalem.

Rima was chosen to represent the Sam Spiegel School at the Los Angeles Screenwriting Seminar and most recently she was selected as one of the “promising young documentary filmmakers in Israel” by the New Israeli Foundation for Cinema and TV.

Most of the children I met during filming (around 20 kids in Occupied Palestinian Territories – OPT) passed away, but each one of them gave me a memorable moment that I will never forget. There was a child called “Hossam” who always sang a song for me “I am the red tomato” (this song is from a TV programme for children called Tyoor El Gane). Another child I met, came from a poor family. His parents didn’t have money to hospitalise him or get him any kind of medication so he died at his home. So, the moments I keep are not all joyful. Each child I met influenced me in a way or another. The bottom line is, each film you make leaves a mark in you that never goes away.

Through this movie I learned the empowerment of women comes from within. Feminist NGOs who try to empower women here do not understand that women don’t need help from them, because empowerment comes from the support provided to each other. Even though the Arab society is known to be a patriarchal one that puts women down, there are unexpected places where you find that women are strong, pow-

My Name is Ahlam Aisha, a Palestinian woman living in the occupied West Bank, is fighting for her daughter’s right to receive adequate treatment for her leukaemia. The director brings to the screen a unique testimonial that escapes self-pity and victimisation while focusing on Aisha’s process of empowerment. Suddenly she is no longer afraid to stand up to her occupiers and to her conservative society.

erful, supportive of each other without any help from their husbands, hospital crews, feminist NGOs. These women appear to be more understanding of the situation of their sick child more than any doctor or anyone else.

Arab films tend to swing between the two extremes of absolute entertainment with no hint of realism, or films that deal with grave issues of war and civil unrest. Your comment?

We face a problem in film industry and televisions in general; there are some creative ideas that are based on problematic social topics but they are often rejected because they are considered taboo. Media prefers to hide these taboos and not discuss them and bring them into the spotlight.

I think these taboos are real and they exist in our societies but our society is living in a state of denial.

For example, trafficking of women, sexuality, homosexuality and other hot topics are newly being presented in movies by young and authentic directors like Yousef Shahen.

How supportive is your family with regards to your career?

It’s not easy for a woman who lives in a patriarchal society and under occupation (which is not only occupation of the land but also of the mind). When I made my first movie which was about historical Palestine and the village my family was expelled from, I realised this is a way of sending a message about what’s going on in historical Palestine. My mother would like to see me married with children but this is not a choice I want to make in my life as Rima 2010 November

35

bag

mixed

Date

Firstly, set a date. There is no point trying to organise the perfect gathering to find out that none of your invitees can attend. Make sure that everyone is aware and have cleared their diaries especially for it.

girls night in

Are you bored of the mundane working week, trafficinfested trips to school, hectic rush to glam up at the weekends? If yes, you’re in need of a relaxing, yet fun, night in with your closest friends. Follow Woman Today’s tips of how to create the perfect girls’ night in.

By Orna Ballout

Now the holidays are over and the kiddies are in full swing of school, it unfortunately leaves us in the predicament of falling into a boring routine and often we invest all of our hopes and energy into a weekend night out on the tiles. However, let’s face it, the amount of time and effort required to make yourself look picture perfect before you hit the social scene can become monotonous. What with all the hours of make-up and hair styling; it eventually takes its toll on the best of us including the dancing queens.

Woman Today’s solution is to send your other half out for the evening, arrange a babysitter and invite your girlfriends over for the ultimate girl’s night in. Yes, it has probably been years since you’ve had a ‘slumber’ party, but, arranging a get together with your lady pals is the perfect way of catching up, reminiscing on the good times and having some fun.

Food

It won’t be much of a party if you are lacking supplies of munchies for your guests. However, the sole focus of this night shouldn’t result in you spending hours of time preparing foods in the kitchen; stock up on quick and easy finger food like pizzas, nuts, popcorn, crisps and last but not least, chocolate. lots of chocolate!

And if you’re feeling lazy on the night just order a take-away!

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November 2010

Movie-Marathon

The perfect opportunity to watch all the best chick-flicks! The list is endless; a suggestion is investing in the box-set of Sex and the City. OK, maybe you won’t get through them all in one sitting, but, at least you’ll have them for future girly gatherings; it’s an absolute must to watch at least one episode of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte’s fabulous fashionable lives.

Other must see movies: The Notebook; don’t forget to have tissues on hand as this is a real tear-jerker. Dirty Dancing; every girl loves watching hip-snaking Swayze shake his stuff as we all repeat in our finest American accents: “Nobody puts baby in the corner!” Whilst you’re in the musical mood; don’t forget Grease! And Pretty Woman, the Julia Roberts and Richard Gere classic is a must. You get the gist ladies, any film evoking our childhood, tears or laughter goes.

Drinks

No girly night is complete without a cooler. Forest Fizz is a refreshingly tasty one.

Ingredients include: a handful of blackberries & blueberries 1cl of lemon juice 1tsp caster sugar soda water.

To make: blend the berries, lemon juice and sugar until smooth then strain the mixture through a strainer. When complete, pour the mix into serving glasses with ice and top it up with soda water, decorate with fresh berries, and voila, a mouth-watering cocktail.

Pamper yourself

Tell your guests to bring their dressing gowns so you can all have a laid-back experience. Once clad in the comfies; spoil yourself with face masks, manicures and pedicures. You can buy ready-made facial mask kits from all major shopping malls but why not add some originality and make up some home-made masks.

For normal skin: one ripe banana, one tablespoon of honey and one beaten egg; to make: mash up the banana then mix in the honey and egg and push this through a sieve before adding it to face and neck (leave on for 10-15 minutes)-it will leave your skin gorgeously soft and moisturised.

For greasy skin: all that is required is one egg white and a few drops of lemon juice; simply whisk them together and apply to face and neck-this combination will encourage stimulating and tightening effects.

Last but not least, don’t forget to relax, laugh and cry recalling precious moments with your friends.

Be careful you’re not the one to fall asleep first, because no matter how much we like to think that we’ve matured; a bunch of girls’ sleeping in the same house is sure to inspire giddiness and at least one person is guaranteed to wake up in the morning as the face-painted clown!

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health &

fitness

By Nicole Van Hattem

W

ho doesn’t feel as if there aren’t enough hours in a day? We rush through the day with our chores and end up exhausted.

These days full of duties have become our lives. We spend our time doing things we don’t really want to do. We’ve come to believe that being productive and crossing things off our to-do list is the ultimate goal.

The truth is, life on Earth is a brief gift, and our time is too precious to be used like this. If we want our lives to be balanced and healthy, we need to lessen our load and increase our down time. This means planning less in a day, prioritisie those things that make our hearts sing and de-prioritise those that are not imperative.

If we must accomplish many things each day, we can still change the quality with which we do things. How can we transmute that drive to work into

There is more to life than increasing its speed.

Gandhi

Avocado Dip

Ingredients: 1 large peeled and pitted avocado 2/3 cup plain yogurt, goat yogurt or soy yogurt 1 diced tomato dash or two of cayenne pepper sea salt and black pepper

Directions:

Prep time

3

minutes

38

yield

1

cup

November 2010

1. Mash avocado with a fork until very smooth.

2. Add yogurt, tomato, cayenne. Blend until smooth.

This may be done in a food processor, in a blender or with a fork.

3. Add sea salt and fresh black pepper to taste.

4. Serve chilled with mixed raw vegetables.

Note: Best made a maximum of one hour before serving.

something delicious instead of the usual gripping and tightening experience? Where can we find ease in the midst of stress? How can we cultivate the art of going slowly?

Take a few moments before you climb out of bed in the morning to remember your dreams and to think about what you want from the day. Leave your watch on the bedside table. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed when you start your computer. Check email only twice a day. Don’t pack your schedule so tightly that there’s no time for a short walk. Light candles before you start to cook dinner. Add one moment here and there to make your schedules a bit relaxed; it can be done simply and will have a profound effect on your well-being.

Food Focus: Oils and Fats Not all oils and fats are created equal. Heavily processed, hydrogenated, “trans” fats and oils that are used in prepared, packaged foods can be extremely damaging to the body. However, fats and oils from whole foods and other high-quality sources can steady our metabolism, keep hormone levels even, nourish our skin, hair and nails and provide lubrication to keep the body functioning fluidly.

Our bodies also need fat for insulation and to protect and hold our organs in place.

A healthy percentage of high-quality fat in a meal satisfies and leaves feelings of energy, fulfillment and warmth.

When there are excess fats and oils in the diet, especially heavily processed fats, symptoms can include weight gain, skin breakouts, high blood pressure, liver strain and an overall feeling of mental, physical and emotional heaviness. Signs of insufficient high-quality fats are brittle hair and nails, dry skin, hunger after meals and feeling cold.

Prep time

Recipe of the Month:

Savoury Tahini Sauce

5

minutes

yield

1

cup

There are many sources of healthy fats and oils: For sauteing and baking, try butter, ghee (clarified butter) or coconut oil because they do not break down when used at high temperatures.

When sauteing foods at moderate temperatures, try organic extra virgin olive oil.

Oils like flaxseed, sesame, toasted sesame, walnut and pumpkin seed are best used unheated in sauces or dressings on top of salads, veggies or grains.

Other healthy fats are found in whole nuts and seeds and in their butters like almond butter or tahini.

Whole foods such as avocados, olives and coconuts are great sources of healthy fat, along with wild salmon and omega-3 and omega-6 organic eggs.

Experiment with these healthy fat sources and see which work best for you.

When selecting oils, buy the highest-quality organic productyou can afford, since cooking oils are the backbone of so many dishes. Good words to look for on the label are organic, first-pressed, cold-pressed, extra-virgin and unrefined. Words to avoid are expeller-pressed, refined and solvent extracted

Ingredients:

Directions:

1/2 cup tahini 1/4 cup water 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons tamari 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced pinch of cayenne (to your taste)

1. In a bowl briskly whisk together the tahini and water until combined. It will look separated at first: just keep whisking!

2. Add remaining ingredients and whisk until combined.

3. Adjust flavors to your taste. Add additional water if you want it thinner.

4. Serve over grains and greens.

Note: Tahini sauce keeps refrigerated for up to one week.

The writer is an Executive Wellness Coach and CoFounding Director of Art of Abundant Living. Her passion is to support people as they create their best life in abundance and balance. Art of Abundant Living provides Corporate Wellness Programs;, Executive and Career Coaching, Nutrition, Cooking and Lifestyle classes, and one-to-one wellness coaching that transforms lives.

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Asil Attar

W

By Shalinee

40

Bharadwaj

November 2010

hile taking a stroll through the trendy Villagio Mall one may tend to miss the recently opened store, but the fashion it houses is definitely worth a note. Hoss Intropia, the renowned fashion brand from Spain, brings an exclusive collection of designer clothing and accessories for women. This is the third boutique to be inaugurated in the Middle East, part of the brand’s ambitious expansion plans in the region. Woman Today had the chance to meet the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Fashion, Asil Attar and know more about the lady behind the business and the creations.

Styled elegantly in a green dress, Asil portrays the picture of a businesswoman with a soft edge. She was here to promote the brand’s Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. Born in Baghdad with Iraqi, Persian and Indian roots, Asil is not new to the culture and traditions of this region. The life of London where she spent all her growing years has only facilitated in adding a different dimension to her designing and business acumen.

“I have not lost touch with my roots. Living in London as a child is the reason I understand the European and global markets. I love travelling to destinations that inspire me – India, Morocco, Barcelona. They present warm, vibrant cultures, people and colours.

I am a fashion addict; it’s more than a passion for me and I want to ensure that my knowledge and experience transpires into other peoples’ lives, through the brands that attract me”.

A strong economy backing an astronomical development of the infrastructure and inflow of a multi-cultural populace has made Qatar an attractive market, especially for the retail sector.

“It’s exciting to have presence in this enormously potent market, especially in the fashion retailing for the female segment. We plan to expand in this evolving market that promises a great future. Already we are in negotiations for introducing other brands in Qatar,” informs Asil.

CEO at office, mother at home: the right balance “As is with any other working woman, I always have to juggle between family and office demands. When I enter my house I make sure that my title is left at the door. I like to spend unhindered time with my two daughters – aged 13 and 18.

"It gets difficult especially when technology provides the capabilities of staying connected at all times!”

Asil finds her strong points in being extremely passionate about her work, self driven, creative, energetic and emotional. She likes to stay connected with her team, work wise and emotionally.

Business is a creative companion

Hoss Intropia AUTUMN/WINTER Collection 2010 The Autumn/Winter 2010 Hoss Intropia collection fuses the signature style of contrasting print and colour with a new and more figure hugging silhouette, emphasising the female form. A sense of masculine tailoring is seen in close fitting jackets, wide leg and ultra narrow trousers, kept feminine with bold printed mini dresses and statement accessories.

Daywear sees the mix of silk printed dresses worn with chunky knitwear for warmth – wear with oversize necklaces and flat, lace up boots for an easy, feminine look. Eveningwear mixes jacquards, devore silks and satins inspired from the Far East. The Silver Collection is super sexy this season, with a mixture of faux fur gilets, embellished mini dresses and tailored jackets.

Ribbon details, subtle transparencies, applique, pleats and draping all suggest the movement of the body.

This region boasts of a discerning consumer base which is fashion conscious and individualistic. Asil comments, “One of the reasons why we launched Hoss in Qatar is that its products reflect the sentiments of the customers in being unique, beautiful and timeless pieces that are not trend led. Hoss’s concept is all about individuality.”

“Our Autumn/Winter collection presents the same ethos-the designs and prints are uniquely Hoss, colourful and very feminine. Each piece is timeless and is an investment. It will always be ‘the piece in your closet’; you can take it into the next spring/summer and wear it with as much elan,” she explains.

Graduating in architectural design was a far cry from the career she now pursues. Her passion for creativity and fashion drew her to join the management team in Harrods for Mohammad Al-Fayed where she found her passion for beautiful products – jewellery, soft accessories, handbags, fashion and of course her personal favourite – shoes!

Asil’s success has been pronounced in the past ten years mainly due to the tireless work that she has done on behalf of the brands she has represented. Attar has travelled extensively, insisting on controlling her buying and selection, using her personal creative flair for design.

Does managing business financials as the CEO ever distract her from her creative passion?

To this she smiles and out comes a well experienced, confident reply, “I am a Gemini – considered to have two heads. While one is very commercial and business driven, the other finds its match in the creativity of the brand.”

She involves herself neck deep in the careful identification and sourcing of new products and brands.

“I am involved with the creative team of the brand bringing in new creative products for the region. A lot of creative input is required in moulding the collection to reflect the ethos of the various regions. I derive satisfaction even in the day-to-day operations of business-getting the right customer experience, developing product knowledge, approaching the right customer, and developing an ingenious team. So my creativity is quite charged all the time." she muses.

Looking at the popularity of fashion designing courses in Qatar, the style scene here is blazingly hot. With a number of global brands entering the market, the uniqueness of design they bear is what is going to decide their success in this immensely potential market with a huge, ready-to-spend customer base 2010 November

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A LOT To Be Happy About In the business of collection and auctioneering, jewellery aficionados Isabelle La Bruyere and Lyne Kaddoura talk about their sparkling careers and the life behind the bids.

In conversation with Myriam Chandna.

F

or them, an era is defined by the creations it offers. Eccentric, confident, and sharing an appetite for bold style, these two women have a keen eye for exclusivity, making them synonymous with Christie’s, the world-renowned auction house they represent in the Middle East. Best of friends and colleagues, Isabelle La Bruyere, Director, Middle East, and Lyne Kaddoura, Jewellery Specialist, Christie’s Dubai, made their mark in Qatar, with the Fabulous Parures - an important private collection and international modern and contemporary art jewellery and art exhibits held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Doha. From emerald studded necklaces to 20th century Egyptian paintings from the collection of Dr. Mohammed Says Farsi, former Mayor of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Isabelle and Lyne exposed some extraordinary collections, as a preview to the upcoming auction on October 26 in Dubai, to art lovers in Doha.

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November 2010

Isabelle “This is the first time that we decided to showcase our collections in Doha. We felt this was perfect timing to bring our collections to Doha, because Doha was named as the Capital of Arab Culture for 2010, and for the last nine months they have been organizing cultural initiatives specifically around this title,” says Isabelle.

An avid collector of contemporary Middle Eastern art, Isabelle began her professional journey at the age of 16 as a summer intern at the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art in the heart of New York City, colloquially known as the Met, being exposed to art from all over the globe spanning 5,000 years of world culture. She then went on to study Art History at the American University of Paris and completed a Master’s programme at Christie’s Education, New York.

“I had a teacher when I was a teenager who fascinated me – taking Art History 101, the art history of

A ncient Egypt really captured me,” says Isabelle. “I interned summer after summer at the Met, really enjoying it, and worked there for several years thereafter, in the Impressionist department, and then I knew exactly what I wanted to do. And you should always do that,” she says.

Isabelle lives in Dubai where she oversees Christie’s operations in the Middle East. In the ten years that she has been at Christie’s, she specialised in Impressionist and Modern Art in London, before heading the specialist annual sales of Ottoman and Orientalist Art and later shifting over to client advisory in 2003 when Christie’s first set foot in the Middle East. Since then, Isabelle has been closely involved in expanding Christie’s presence and business in the region and in the process interacting with important clients – both

sellers and collectors.

“I love jewellery and fashion in the Middle East and internationally, but there are some jewellery designers I absolutely adore here, like Nadine Kanso, a Lebanese visual artist and jewellery designer who works with calligraphy on pieces of jewellery,” she says. “I am in awe of the young and upcoming designers in the Middle East, because their creations are bold. I don’t wear very much, but when I do, I like bold pieces,” she says.

For Isabelle, the Middle East possesses a distinct sense of femininity in its fashion creations, unlike any other part of the world.

“Kaftans, or other similar flowing robes worn across the region, are a great example of femininity in this region. There is nothing more elegant than a woman dressed in a long, flowing gown, similar to those created by Rami Al-Ali, the Syrian designer who is known for his European inspired couture which gives off such a strong sense of Eastern femininity,” she says.

On her own art collection, she confesses that her first love will always be photography, even though she believes that her taste is evolving as she becomes increasingly enthralled by Middle Eastern paintings.

“I love photography, so I collect works of Lala Essaydi who is a wonderful Moroccan artist. I am big on Orientalism (this is my 19th century coming out) and her art is what I consider 21st century Orientalism through photographic images, and then she writes in henna, on top of the photographs, her diaries which talk about the role of women. I also like the Lebanese artist, Ayman Baalbaki, which is actually on my wish list. My collection is still very modest though – around 12 pictures, nothing to brag about. I am buying the best I can afford,” she says.

More than often, she finds herself being in awe of the young and upcoming designers in the Middle East, a sentiment which she owes to the boldness of their creations.

“I don’t wear very much, but when I do, I like bold pieces. I appreciate jewellery and fashion very much, but I am a picture specialist. Lyne is the jewellery specialist,” she says, speaking of her colleague.

Exquisite Bogh-Art For the past 100 years, with four generations of passion and expertise in gems and high-end jewellery, the Boghossian family has been creating unique jewellery pieces for a selective and demanding clientele.

In 2008, Albert Boghossian, together with two nephews Roberto and Ralph, created the House Bogh-Art, in Geneva Switzerland. Bogh-Art produces exclusive jewels which blends beautiful colours with extremely fine craftsmanship resulting in unique and exquisite sophistication. Their fine Haute Joaillerie line skilfully combines beautiful precious

stones with audacious and innovative designs, as displayed in the Magnificent Natural Pearl and Diamond Suite. Bogh-Art is also famed for its revival of the ancient art of inlay, a decorative technique of setting a stone directly into another stone, to form patterns and pictures that are seamlessly set within the matrix.

Once a specific design has been imagined, a skilled master craftsman is charged with sculpting and carving the hard stone and creating the precise space required to house the precious stone and bring to life the desired pattern.

A Fine Pair of Ruby, Mother-of-Pearl and Diamond Ear Clips, by Bogh-Art Estimate: $150,000-200,000 QR560,000-730,000

A Magnificent Suite of Natural Pearl and Diamond Jewellery, by Bogh-Art Estimate: $1,000,000-1,200,000 QR3,640,000-4,368,000

An Attractive Emerald, Opal and Diamond Ring, by Bogh-Art Estimate:$75,000-85,000 QR280,000-310,000

An Unusual Set of Aluminium Fibre and Diamond Jewellery, by Bogh-Art Estimate: $24,000-28,000 QR88,000-105,000

A Stylish Suite of Diamond, Turquoise and Aquamarine Jewellery, by Bogh-Art Estimate: $110,000-130,000 QR410,000-480,000

Lyne “I have always loved jewellery, especially bracelets,” says Lyne, speaking of her favourite and most frequently worn item of jewellery.

“Nowadays, I’m really into cuffs; big and bold amazing bracelets. I would wear them, either one as a statement, or one on each arm. I even created some for myself. It’s a bold statement, yet very feminine, you don’t need anything else. You wear your

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jeans and t-shirt, and your two big cuffs, and you feel like Wonder Woman!” she says, tilting her wrist to reveal a golden brass cuff with half-moon shaped cuts along its long body.

While Isabelle followed an interest she developed at a rather young age, Lyne did not launch into her career as a jewellery specialist until she was at the brink of becoming a corporate lawyer. She grew up in Paris, France, Europe’s most fashion-centric metropolis, where she earned a degree in Business Law from the Assas Law School.

“After the war in Lebanon in the 80s, my family and I decided to leave. My parents first established themselves in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and finally moved to Paris in 1986, where I grew up,” she says.

Armed with a law degree from one of the highest ranking law schools in Europe, she could have gone on to practice business law and work for any one of the prestigious law firms in Paris. However, she soon realised that being a full-time lawyer was not her cup of tea.

“Completing five years of intense Business Law, I knew somewhere in my heart that I did not want to be a lawyer, and if I did become one, I wouldn’t be a very good one. It just wasn’t me,” says Lyne.

“Business Law has nothing to do with jewellery but I’m glad I did it, because it gives me a lot of rigor and energy, and of course business sense, which is necessary in my current field,” she says.

Lyne's passion for jewels and gems was further fuelled by a book on exquisite jewellery by Daniela Mascetti (featured in Woman Today August issue), a well-known senior jewellery specialist at Sotheby’s auction house, from which she drew her inspiration to look deeper into the subject.

Kaftans, or other similar flowing robes worn across the region, are a great example of femininity in this region.

There is nothing more elegant than a woman dressed in a long, flowing gown.

Isabelle

“In my third year of law school, I was visiting my cousin in New York and I was in this huge library where I picked up her book. Since then, I began to endlessly buy books on jewellery and gemology. That’s when I thought that I want to give myself a year, study this field, and see where it takes me,” she says.

Fresh out of gemmology school, Lyne got picked up

by Tiffany’s & Co., one of the top jewellery houses in the US, where she worked for a year.

“They are very organised, and what is most impressive about them is that they haven’t diluted their image. They are still best known for their engagement rings and blue box is synonymous with Tiffany’s. But what I really wanted to do was work for Christie’s. I did everything; sent out so many CVs and gave nine or 10 interviews with them, before I finally landed a position at Christie’s in Geneva, Switzerland,” she says.

Like Isabelle, Lyne is currently based in Dubai where she manages the development of the Dubai jewellery auctions and private sales, and runs Christie’s jewellery department in the Middle East. In addition to valuing unique pieces of art and jewellery, there is one more thing which these women value and cherish – their friendship.

“She [Isabelle] is one of my greatest friends – we live in the same building, on the same floor by coincidence, work in the same company, and we go out at night together. She is my partner in crime! I’m very happy to be in Dubai with her, she just makes everything fun,” says Lyne.

“We work in sync and we complement each other,” says Isabelle. “She [Lyne] says she’s not a collector. And I’d be like, are you kidding me? Have you seen your collection of cuffs?”

Going back to her fascination with cuffs, Lyne mentions that she does not actually own a cuff by a famous designer yet, even though her friends often design cuffs for her. She also takes pleasure in exploring her grandmother’s personal collection of cuffs. But if some day she was to buy a designer cuff, her first choice would be Van Cleef & Arpels.

“They have these two textured gold cuffs that shipping magnate Christina Onassis owned. They are similar on each arm, and they have movements which make them look simply gorgeous. You wear one with white t-shirt, and you’re good to go,” says Lyne.

“For me, Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the houses today that make me dream. Some others may impress me, but Van Cleef is the house that makes me dream.

Every jewel is a fairy tale,” she says.

Pieces in the lot When it comes to high-end designer pieces, like

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Business Law has nothing to do with jewellery but I’m glad I did it, because it gives me a lot of rigor and energy, and of course business sense, which is necessary in my current field.

Lyne those originating at Van Cleef & Arpels, the brand image established by the jewellery house and designers speaks for itself. That, however, cannot be the case with everything, such as the private collection that was auctioned by Christie’s in Dubai on October 26.

Then what is it that draws in collectors who invest thousands of dollars in the jewels?

“Quality and provenance, is what attracts great collectors out there,” says Isabelle.

“With art and jewellery, you look at the artist, how much of a following does he have? Is he in demand?

How many shows has he had behind him? How prolific he is? How good the piece is, is it in good condition, is it a piece from an important moment or series, is it fresh to the market or has it been on the market for a long time? All these are important questions one needs to ask, and should never be afraid to ask,” she says.

As far as collectors are concerned, Lyne adds, there is an assessed need for jewellery specialists to advise and guide clients so that they are able to make informed choices when purchasing jewellery.

“My first and foremost job is to give unbiased advice to my clients – the vendors and sellers. We never own the pieces, we are basically brokers between two people,” says Lyne.

“If someone has a collection, or a piece of jewellery, they want to know what it’s worth, the price, and what the best place to sell it is. We also organise two sales every year, which I organise with my colleague, David Warren, who is the Head of Jewellery for the Middle East. Then we promote our sales, hold exhibitions like this one in Doha. We know our collectors very well, so we know which pieces are best suited for their collections. Then we give a reasonable estimate of how much to pay for a particular piece,” she says.

A Magnificent Emerald and Diamond Parure

by Jahan

An Important Sapphire and Diamond Parure

by Mouawad

(to be sold as separate lots, all without reserve) including:

(to be sold as separate lots, all without reserve):

An emerald and diamond necklace, by Jahan, composed of a fringe of seven Colombian pear-shaped emerald drops weighing a total of 158.52 carats.

An important sapphire and diamond bracelet, by Mouawad, mounted with a cabochon sapphire weighing 180.86 carats.

$180,000-250,000 QR660,000-910,000

$250,000-350,000 QR910,000-1,300,000

A pair of Colombian emerald and diamond ear pendants, by Jahan, the emeralds weighing 13.37 and 12.62 carats respectively.

A sapphire and diamond pendant necklace/brooch by Mouawad, mounted with a cabochon sapphire weighing 131.17 carats.

$60,000-80,000 QR220,000-290,000

$180,000-250,000 QR660,000-910,000

An emerald and diamond ring, by Jahan, mounted with a pear-shaped emerald weighing 16.53 carats.

An important sapphire and diamond ring,

by Mouawad, mounted with a Kashmir sugarloaf cabochon sapphire weighing 26.12.

According to Isabelle, great collections take time to build, as they are usually born out of patience and careful selection.

“Don’t rush. Buy with your heart, then with your head,” she advises new collectors. “Art is something very personal that you live with. Moreover, buy the best of what you can afford, because quality and state are very important. Try and see as much as possible, the good and the bad, ask questions, teach yourself. Experts in this field love to share their knowledge,” she says.

As they evaluate the past and present, the women find themselves mesmerised by the concepts that emerge from the Middle Eastern talent mine.

“We were the first international auction house to open in the GCC and have sold over 1,000 works by Middle Eastern artists in less than four years and made over $66.5 million. The potential and demand from clients in this region is unbelievable. And there is just such a large pool of talent here that the rest of the world doesn’t know about. Our catalogues, which go out to 10,000 clients worldwide, these artists, by being in our catalogues were being exposed for the first time ever to the international art market, whether it be through our website, brochures, or catalogues,” says Isabelle.

Fabulous Parures

$50,000-70,000 QR190,000-250,000 A Colombian emerald and diamond bracelet, by Jahan.

$60,000-80,000 QR220,000-290,000

$120,000-180,000 QR440,000-650,000 A pair of sapphire and diamond ear clips,

by Mouawad.

$30,000-50,000 QR110,000-180,000

Committed to promoting Middle Eastern art on an international platform, Isabelle and Lyne believe that the promotional strategies they employed with artists can also be applied to jewellery designers.

“In our catalogues here, we devote an entire section to Middle Eastern designers, showcasing their designs for the first time on an international platform. We have done this previously with art, by displaying the art work of Middle Eastern artists in our catalogues and sales. We are now adopting the same approach with jewellery,” she explains.

Fabulous Parures – An Important Private Collection, therefore, happens to be in the right place at the right time. The dazzling suites which have been brought to Doha, include entire parures, or sets of matching jewellery, by contemporary Middle Eastern designers like Elie Chatila and Pascal Mouawad.

“My personal favourite from this collection is this sapphire and diamond bracelet by Mouawad,” says Lyne, pointing to a white gold bracelet mounted with a sugarloaf cabochon sapphire weighing 180.86 carats, set within an emerald-cut diamond demi-surround to the tapered lattice-work band composed of a series of vari-cut diamonds and circular-shaped cabochon sapphires 2010 November

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American brand Nautica available at The Mall

H

urry to The Mall to get a peek at leading American Lifestyle brand Nautica's fabulous fall collection. Offerings include products for men, women, children and a fabulous array of accessories. The range is made up of casual crisp classic pieces inspired and energized by the water; it's packed with cosy autumn palettes of browns, orange and green mixed with hints of blue and red.

Get 'Happy Kids'

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esigual's 'Happy Kids' collection certainly evokes a feeling of happiness with its latest offerings. The clothing for kids aged 3-14 portrays a fantastic vibe of positivity and fun. Packed with colours of the rainbow; it looks like it could have been designed by a bunch of trendy little ones let loose with crayons and paint! We adore!

Chic inspiration

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his autumn, it's all about Audrey Hepburn style in this New York Penthouse apartment created by chic shop, The One. To attain this ultra fashionable look, fuse bases of black, white and sliver with hints of rose gold and pink. Painting one wall with a pattern adds character and creates perfect contrast. Accessorise an oversized sofa with trendy metallic and black and gold embroidered cushions. White cushions soften the style, whilst candles create a magical ambience. For finishing touches fill a vase with some fresh flowers.

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Smart skin care

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heck out this miraculous range of anti-aging products called AGE smart

by Dermalogica. The intelligent, scientifically advanced products are designed to prevent and repair internal and external damage to ageing skin. The unique focus is to address the source of changes in the skin which encourage problems like wrinkles, dehydration and uneven pigmentation. Brimming with Vitamin C, anti-oxidants and SPF; purchase of this lot is a no-brainer if you want to achieve a fresh-faced glow.

Chic kiddies clothing

F

Eye up Estee Lauder's latest offerings

C

heck out these new vibrant Pure Color eyeshadows from the beauty experts at Estee Lauder. The long-lasting shadows are available in an array of inviting colours including plush purple, antique gold, smoky graphite and sweet sugar. According to the creative make-up director of Estee lauder, Tom Pecheux, "Eyeshadow brings self-confidence and power to a woman. The new Pure Color shades are sensual and I love them. These are definitely my babies."

ix your eyes on this uber cute, trendy and affordable winter collection from chic French kids' brand, Okaidi & Obaibi, which recently opened in Landmark Mall. The colours of the season are vibrant reds, deep blues and practical darker hues of charcoal grey and black. CanĂ­t you just picture your little ones prancing around donning some of these offerings of the coolest pieces?

Unite to save sight

Ä˝

occitane has introduced a product for a worthy cause; the Contes D'Afrique soap, sets to help children of Africa with 100% of proceeds going to Orbis, a NGO devoted to fighting preventable blindness in developing countries. The scrumptious scented soap contains a high concentration of shea butter and is adorned with a picture of an African mask, symbolising the wisdom of a traditional African tale that asks people to look beyond their prejudices. Over 300 million people across the globe are visually impaired, and with just a little bit of help, copious cases could be avoided.

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Splash soaks crowd in fashion

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ashion house, Splash, recently launched its new Autumn/Winter range in a fabulous show in Dubai. The event lured 3,000 fashion enthusiasts to watch 40 gorgeous models storm the runway in the latest collections. The main focus of the range is centred on two global key trends of Military/Biker and Country Club Ski, it's uber trendy and set to be a sell-out!

Wedding bliss

E

very bride dreams of having the perfect wedding day, that's why bridal registry service boutique Tanagra is the perfect shopping destination for fashionable brides to be and newlyweds. It stocks a unique range of high end luxury products in homeware and decor and its team of experts are always on hand to provide the best advice. Not only will the bride be chuffed receiving these fabulous gifts; the person delivering them will be super excited too.

Timeless luxury

S

alam Stores has a new addition of luxury accessories with the availability of famed Greek jewellery & watch brand, Oxette. The avant-garde range gathers inspiration from the magical city of New York, exuding an edgy feel with references to art movements neo-constructivism, neo-dada, graffiti, and optical art.

Offerings include casual sporty watches and ultra chunky ones glistening with jewels; bold, thick necklaces dominate as do impressive crystallised rings.

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town

around

Porcini Lip smacking Italian

Chef Alessio Corda Chef de Cuisine, Porcini restaurant

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Location & Ambience:  Service:  Food:  Presentation: 

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way from the hustle-bustle of the crowded Doha city, the West Bay’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel has always garnered plaudits, be it for its service, food or stay. While the hotel boasts a variety of restaurants, each unique in their cuisines, we got a chance to sample the revamped savoury menu at Porcini – the Italian restaurant.

Welcoming us to the restaurant was Manager Jonatha Ramaccioni whose chivalry and affable gesture warms up the already cosy ambience created by dim lights, as we made ourselves comfortable in our seats.

The kitchen is an open one. So you can see the chefs working diligently to dole out the perfect dish just to satisfy our tingling taste buds...and amidst the steam and white uniforms we spot the merry Chef Alessio Corda – Porcini’s Chef de Cuisine.

Heavenly bites What better way to start your dinner than with a complimentary treat of Italian bread sticks (grissini) served with three dips – walnut parmesan, sun-dried tomato and blue-cheese; in addition to assorted bread selections with extra-virgin olive-oil and

Presenting food in style

A notable element at Porcini is presentation; every item is served with such precision and details that your heart almost wrenches as your spoon slashes into the piece of art lying on the platter. After all, “food presentation has a 50 % impact on final customer satisfaction,” says Jonatha.

Playing with an ingredient’s molecular structure to redefine its appearance is a part of ‘molecular gastronomy’ and this new trendy fusion-style cuisine comes from Chef Alessio’s experience in Barcelona, while working with Chef Adrian Ferra, at the famous restaurant El Bulli.

balsamic vinegar, straight from the kitchen.

Serving as appetisers were a dollop of liquid mozzarella with basil and tomato; a small octopus salad and deep fried bresaola (dried and aged sliced beef) enwrapping pearls of salmon roe.

The degree of scrumptiousness went a notch higher with the amazing main courses served one after the other, forcing our tummies to make space for the next. Succulent scallops, salad, fine beef carpaccio, green asparagus risotto with home made foie gras, egg tagliolini, pan seared seabass and braised tender veal cheek – every dish was a perfect blend of spice and sauce, cooked at the right temperature with fresh ingredients, and laid out in the most immaculate manner. While the veal cheek was cooked for 5-6 hours, the rest of the dishes were prepared ‘a la minute’ which means cooking the food to your order!

But, the highlight of the evening was definitely the spuma sorbet – foam of lemon-grass and peppermint.

Chef Alessio explains “The spuma effect is produced when CO2 and natural food gelatin is mixed in a siphon, resulting in foam. Spuma serves in cleansing the palette as well as the fats from the stomach”, and with this the cream coloured foam hit our palettes with a refreshing kick.

The palatable evening ended with a heavenly platter of desserts – tiramisu, carrot plum cake with caramel sauce and cinnamon ice-cream.

Porcini guarantees you a taste of Italy with its new revamped fusion cuisine, while retaining the basic Italian ingredients. And while you wait to be served, the sizzle from the kitchen is reminiscent of the impending mouth-watering dishes to be ingested with zest!

– Reviewed by Cassey Oliviera

2010 November

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Bliss Spa supports ‘Pink’

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n a community awareness initiative set to coincide with the world wide Pink campaign for Breast Cancer charities, the ‘Pink Bliss’ campaign took off at the Bliss Spa of W Doha Hotel and Residences. Support to the cause was shown by painting the guest’s nails in pink, giving away the ‘w pink bits’ and welcoming them with the Hotel’s signature pink drink. The guests were encouraged to donate for the cause. The event was to raise the profile of the disease while gathering financial support to fund additional research. All donations collected through the day were given to Qatar National Cancer Society.

Harley’s Ride for survival

ROTA rolls out wheels yet again

I

I

n a move supporting Qatar Cancer Society, The Pearl Qatar teamed up with the Harley Davidson Motorbike Owner’s Association and Noodle House at Porto Arabia for a ‘ride out’. More than 200 Harley Davidson riders from Qatar and across the GCC gathered beside the Doha Exhibition Centre and then moved on to Noodle House at The Pearl-Qatar.

After completing the circuit, riders toned down the grunt of their engines and displayed their machines on La Croisette, the boardwalk at Porto Arabia, making for an impressive public spectacle.

The event was marked by a donation by the United Development Company (UDC), master-developer of The Pearl-Qatar to the Qatar National Cancer Society as a symbol of appreciation for their efforts.

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n the campaign to encourage a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness of ROTA’s goal of ‘Education For All’, the Flagship Sponsor Qatar Petroleum and Leadership Sponsor Jaidah Group launched the 4th Wheels ‘n’ Heels Community Fun Day 2010. This two day event saw a variety of activities to engage participants who were encouraged to saddle up, skateboard or simply pull on the trainers to complete the circuit as families and celebrities jogged, walked, cycled or wheeled chairs along the three kilometres stretch of the Doha Corniche. The event aimed at raising money for ROTA projects across Asia.

Other sponsors included – official Fundraiser HSBC and Official Partner Qatar Cycling Federation. In addition, many other corporations and organisations participated at the event such as Vodafone, Qatar Tennis Federation, Girls on the Go, Qtel, Aspire, Aspetar, Qatar 2022 World Cup Bid Committee, Dohaland, Qatar Diabetes Association, Hamad Medical Corporation and Civil Defence.

Evidence-based medicine lauded at HMC

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evelopments at Hamad Medical Corportion (HMC) support a positive outlook on the practice of evidence-based medicine in Qatar. This practice bases itself in using the best available evidence gained from scientific methods and research in clinical decision making.

Dr Kameshwar Prasad, neurology professor and director of the Clinical Epidemiology Unit at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, recently spoke on the subject at the sidelines of a medical-pharmaceutical education workshop he facilitated at HMC’s Education Centre. Joint Commission International's reaccreditation of all HMC hospitals, aligning its residency programme with the standards of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I) in the United States, are positive indications towards a culture of evidence-based practice at HMC, said the doctor. Dr Haleema Al-Tamimi, Acting Director of Pharmacy at Hamad General Hospital suggested eventually extending the training programme in this practice to all the pharmacies in HMC facilities all over Qatar.

TAKREEM to inspire success

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o encourage and inspire the present and future generations and to be seen as contributing to the appreciation of Arab heritage, culture and identity, The TAKREEM Arab Achievement Awards 2011 was officially launched. These awards coming in ten categories aim at spreading accomplishments of outstanding Arab achievers in various fields and share their success stories with the world. These awards attracted participation from different countries across the globe.

Liza to woo diners at the Pearl-Qatar

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he much awaited Lebanese Restaurant, Liza has now opened its doors to diners at the La Croisette in Porto Arabia. Brought to The Pearl-Qatar by Hospitality Development Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of UDC, Liza was founded in Paris in 2005. The restaurant infuses traditional Lebanese cuisine, contemporised for modern diners.

The menu includes recipes from all Lebanese regions, including some old traditional family recipes.

Young talent shines at Art Festival Yanthi Ambar and Krisnawati attending school supported by Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) scholarships brought laurels to their alma mater by winning the first prize at the Art Festival for Vocational School Students in Central Java, Indonesia. The talented pair’s seven-minute documentary – titled ‘Dibawah Naungan Merapi’ (Under the Shelter of Merapi) – has won their school an entry into the national film competition. The documentary relates the story of sand miners living on the slopes of the Merapi Mountains in Central Indonesia, In 2008 ROTA launched the Qatar-Titian Scholarship Fund in cooperation with the Indonesia-based Titian Foundation, aiming to promote access to education for disadvantaged students in Bayat Klaten – one of the severely damaged regions during the earthquake that left 1,000,000 people homeless on the Island of Java in May 2006.

2010 November

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MOVIES you can’t miss

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure/ Kids

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ased on the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling, the final chapter of the Harry Potter film series begins as Harry, Ron and Hermione leave Hogwarts behind and set out to find and destroy the Horcruxes – the secret to Voldemort’s power and immortality.

The film is to be split in two, with David Yates, who directed the preceding two films, directing both parts. While the first part will be released in November this year, the second part will be released in July 2011. The films will be shot back to back and treated as if it were one film.

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The Next Three Days

Morning Glory

L

W

Genre: Thriller

ife seems perfect for John Brennan (Russell Crowe) until his wife, Lara (Elizabeth Banks), is arrested for a gruesome murder she says she didn’t commit. Three years into her sentence, John is struggling to hold his family together while he pursues every means available to prove her innocence. With the rejection of their final appeal, Lara becomes suicidal and John decides there is only one possible, bearable solution – to break his wife out of prison. Undeterred by impossible odds, John devises an elaborate escape plot, risking everything for the woman he loves.

Genre: Comedy

hen TV producer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is fired from a local news programme, she stumbles into a job at a lagging morning news show “Daybreak”. Becky decides to revitalise the show by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford). When Mike refuses to cover morning shows, let alone work with his new co-host, Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton), Becky struggles to save her love life with fellow producer Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), her reputation, her job and ultimately, the show itself.

BOOKS you must read

Adam & Eve

By Sena Jeter Naslund

H

ours before Lucy Bergmann’s husband died, he had given her a memory stick that held evidence of extraterrestrial life. She attends a conference in Egypt about her husband’s work, when she’s asked to smuggle an ancient codex out of the country which would undermine the religious basis of Judaism, Christianity and Islam; but a group of fundamentalists are determined to destroy it at all costs. While fleeing Egypt, Lucy’s plane crashes in an isolated area of Iraq. She’s rescued by Adam, an American soldier and becomes his Eve, revelling in their private Eden, until the violence of the real world finds them again. Sena Jeter Naslund’s novel is a strangely compelling, well-crafted, truly original novel.

Fall of Giants

By Ken Follett

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eginning in the years before World War I, the book follows a disparate group of people who are witnesses to major events in the early 20th century. Billy Williams is a teenage miner in Wales; his sister Ethel is a housekeeper for the wealthy Fitzherbert family; Lady Maud Fitzherbert falls for a German spy; Gus Dewar is a law student working in the Wilson White House; Grigori and Lev Peshkov are Russian brothers caught in the war and the revolution. Fall of Giants is a suspenseful, tightly constructed, sharply characterised, plot-driven book.

By Nightfall

By Michael Cunningham

P

eter Harris is a middle-aged art dealer struggling to find the extraordinary in his mundane life. When his wife’s younger brother, Ethan, also known as Mizzy, comes to stay with them, it topples Peter’s world. Mizzy is an ex-addict, complete with the deceit and secrets that accompany addiction, who is still trying to find direction in his life. When Peter agrees to mentor Mizzy, events cause Peter to question all his assumptions about his life.

Michael Cunningham’s novel portrays the deeply felt story of the conflicted Peter, who ultimately discovers what he is willing to sacrifice for happiness, in a most riveting manner.

2010 November

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net

An ‘e-way’

of saving paper www.printwhatyoulike.com

H

ow often have you wanted to print that small yummy recipe section or an advice column from a web-page, but end up printing 3-4 pages, simply because the actual content refuses to squeeze in a single page (thanks to the flimsy ads and images)?

While the world is thronging the gates of ‘eco-friendliness’, don’t let the guilt of wasting paper bother you. After all, saving paper just got easier with www. printwhatyoulike.com – a ‘free’ online editor that lets you format any web page for printing in seconds!

To start, log on to the site and type the URL of the page you want to print.

Once the page is opened, you click on a particular box or image and a small toolbar pops up with commands to ‘select’ the size of a selected area, to ‘isolate’ the selected section, to ‘remove’ a particular section, to ‘widen’ a narrow

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text column, and ‘resize’ the selected section.

Apart from this, to the left of your screen, you will notice other commands like ‘Text size’ and ‘Font’ to change font style and size. An interesting inclusion to the few font options is the Ecofont which includes tiny holes in the characters to minimise ink consumption – so its saving ink and paper together! Another command ‘hides’ or ‘shows’ the background or image as per your wish. Also, a new webpage can be ‘added’ to your current page, and similar changes can be made to it. If you fear making an unnecessary change, there is always an option of ‘Undo’ which will restore the original page.

Upon making the final changes, the modified page can either be saved as a PDF or HTML file. For additional saving options, you have to be a member, which is again absolutely free. With this, you get extra commands of ‘Change set’ which automatically formats all pages from the same site, and ‘Clips’ which compiles snippets of pages together in one document for printing.

This site also provides two installable commands – ‘Bookmarklet’ which flashes the printwhatyoulike editor on any page you are viewing, and ‘PageZipper’ which automatically merges one page after the other, especially for those websites which have the cumbersome ‘NEXT’ button to be clicked every time!

So be it recipes, exercises, dieting tips or anything you want to read, save the horror of junk ads or images, and simply read what you like! And more importantly, you are saving paper...

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Foot Care Centre city Center

Dr Mohammed Ameen Zebeib (Consultant Physician)

Hongkong Body Care Center

44665816

Jean Louis David

44327990

La Reine Skincare Center

Dr Tamim Malas (General Dentistry)

44669988

Dr Tarek S Abdl El Azim (Oral Medicine)

44671118

Family Medical Clinics

44514557

Layal Beauty Saloon 55521356

44502929/44504848

44135245

Lo Spaghetto (Italian)

44341601

Nandos (MEXICAN)

44442345

Patchi (Chocolates)

44864101

Shanghai Garden (CHINESE)

44933188

Tajine (Moroccon)

44444171

tangia (moroccan cuisine)

44343333

Tanjore (Indian)

44320333

The Great Wall (Chinese)

44312812

44661947

The One (Continental)

44888669

Najat Dental Clinic

44474656

Yen Sushi Bar (Japanese)

44288888

Obstetrics&Gynecology Clinic

44423923

Pediatric Dental Cllinic

44366311

Tamima Medical Complex

44875515

44874771

Moulay Yaaqoup Beauty Center

Future Dental Center

44580800

44553465

GoodLife Chemist - Alsadd

44447943

Salon at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel 44848000

GoodLife Chemist - City Center 44839100

GoodLife Chemist The Pearl 4495 3876 ext. 1171

Saloon Osraa

55708742

Gulf Dental Center

44670701 / 44670702

Sehati Beauty Mall

44683831

Gulf Dental Centre

44670701/44670702

44697840/44580193

shopping and malls Centre Point Mall

44421766

City Center-Doha

44933355

HYATT PLAZA

44694848

Landmark Mall

44875222

ROYAL PLAZA

44130000

The Centre

44440202

The Mall

44678888

Villaggio

60

44135222

44341700/ 44341200

Le Pain Quotidien

First Dental Center

Slim Line

44417417

44371743

44582319

Sightly Beauty Salon 44567144

Khazana (Indian)

44445335/ 44660663

Le Gourmet (Meditteranean/Arabic)

Marinaa Beauty Saloon

Salon at Intercontinental Hotel 44844444

Chilli’s (American)

International Specialized Dental Center

44507897

Mr Mohad A Elwadia Dental Clinic

security Total Security Solutions

November 2010

44441941

expat groups

Inch Café (City Center)

44633054

Madison Piano Bar (Live international music) 44288888

The Coffee Cottage (Near Chili’s Ramada Junction) 44839042 The Irish Harp (Sheraton) 44854444 The Waterhole (Sheraton) 44854444 Wok Mee (Movenpick Tower)

44966444

pet care Pampered Pets Kennel & Cattery

55884132

Qatar Animal Welfare

American Women’s Association

44128177

British Council & Information Centre

44251888

Chelsea Football Club Supporters 66696524

Society

55396074

Qatar Pet Relocaters

55286335

Qatar Pet Travel

44808458

Qatar Veterinary Centre

44877144

The Veterinary Surgery

44367187

health and fitness

Al Dana Club

hospitals

44960666

Al Khor Riding Center

44323245/66610527

AL Massa Active (ladies)

44444161

Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence

44136208

Badminton

44417417

Contours Express (ladies only)

44980099

Curves

44699955

Cycling

44475522

Diplomatic Club

44839000

Al Ahli Hospital

44898888

Al Amal Hospital

44397830

Al Emadi Hospital

44666009

Al Saad Paediatric Emergency Centre

Doha Hockey Club

44428198

Doha Netball

55855703

Doha Rugby Union

44683771

Doha Sailing Club

44439840

Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sport Hospital

44132000

Gold’s Gym

44666622

Hamad General Hospital

44394444

Gymnastics Federation

44655667

Qatar Medical Centre

44440606

Intercontinental Doha’s Bay Club 44844852

Rumaillah Hospital

44393333

Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex

Womens Hospital

44396666

American Hospital

44392948 44421999

44409666

Korea Taekwondo Center 44659066/55563305 Pepka Yoga

66806768

Qatar Golf Academy

44960755

Qatar Minor Ice Hockey Association

55063526/ 55034649

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Riding Club

44807413

Regatta Sailing Academy

55507846

Royal Yatching Association 6 6749254/55279198 Sandsport-Blo-karting

55236579

Sports for Women

44931024

SqubaDiving

55836240

phones and support

spas and wellness Four Seasons Spa

44910666 44910666

German Ladies Coffee Morning

44298520

Millenium Hotel Doha Spa

44247777

Ramada Plaza

44281621

Ritz Carlton Spa

44848503

Six Senses Spa

44256999

Spa Chakra (Alfardan Towers)

44999250

Habib’s Hair & Beauty Lounge

44130672

44680641

Apple Tree Nursery

44812147

Busy Bees Nursery

44472319

Creative Child

44795916

Elder Tree 44551020/ 44984984/ 44888493 French Nursery

44980639

IAID Instrumental and vocal classes 44320974 Indian Women’s Association

44425937

Little Angels

44602713

Qatar Toastmasters

55547248

Little Cherubs Nursery

44113803

Redotters@Qatar

55209294

Mulbery Bush Nursery

44502545

Rising Stars Kindergarten

44673069

44352598/55870133 55468309

Life Time Nursery

44110953 44551010/ 44551212

Starfish Lane Kids 44875939/ 44110355 Sunbeam Kindergarten

44440108

Tots Corner Nursery

44688008

local tour operators

home decor

grand regency hotel perfect figure 44343446

Marriott Spa

The English Kindergarten

Fun First Nursery

44948888

grand regency hotel shape & style beauty salon 44343447

55336851

Harley Davidson motorcycle group 55323680

grand regency hotel angsana spa 44343152/44343153

w hotel bliss spa 44535555

55574671/ 55315745

Turkish Women’s Association

La Cigale’s Ozone Spa & Gym 44288888

Nokia repair services

Doha Singers

Silver Dhow Association

Intercontinental Doha Spa 44844444

Nokia phones and accessories

play schools and nurseries

communities and entertainment groups

Arteligno Interior Designers 44361580 Home Centre

44839400

ID design

44678777

Indoors Decorators (almuftah)

44699920

Pioneer Interiors

44342150

Salam Industries Wll

44600692

The One

44888669

Al Mazaya Tourism

44318440

Arabian Adventures

44361461

Black Pearl Toursism

44357333

Gulf Adventures Toursim

44221888

Qatar International Adventures

44553954

Qatar International Tours 44551141

To list your services in the Woman Today Directory, please mail wtoday@omsqatar.com

2010 November

61

SNAPSHOTS 1

stars on the red carpet

DTFF:

5

1. Yasmine Al Massri 2. Frieda Pinto 3. Amanda Palmer 4. Robert de Niro 5. Salma Hayek

A DAZZLING SHOW It was a star-packed show and the second Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) came to an end after a dramatic open-air concert by superstar Ragheb Alama at Katara Cultural Village. Hawi won Best Arab Film and Balls picked up the award for Best Arab Filmmaker in recognition for its screenplay.

The First Grader and Grandma, A Thousand Times won the Audience Awards for Best Narrative Film and Best Documentary Film. The prize for Best Arab Short Film went to Sirwar Zirkly’s Missing.

Mahmoud Kaabour, director of Grandma, A Thousand Times also received a Special Jury Mention in the Arab Film Competition for his film, a heartfelt celebration of family ties.

This year DTFF also engaged the community in activities surrounding the Festival. It gave wonderful opportunities for children and families to play, experience, and learn as they engaged in the adventure of discovering the wonders of Katara, the new cultural village of Doha.

3 4

Fun & family time at Katara

2