On Sunday 25 May 2008, the French Institute, Arab Media Watch and Parallax Media are screening the UK premiere of veteran director Yousry Nasrallah's film The Aquarium (Genenet Al Asmak), an ambitious examination of the sexual and political landscape of contemporary Cairo.

Its two protagonists are observers rather than participants, taking a discreetly Olympian approach to other people's problems. Laila is a late-night radio talk show host whose listeners talk about their most closely guarded secrets; Youssef is an anesthetist who enjoys listening to the things his patients mumble as they drift off into unconsciousness. Both travel along the paths of longing as their destinies become marked by the visually suggestive aquarium gardens in Cairo. Poetic, multilayered and an inspired treat.

Time: 7pm

Venue: Ciné lumière, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT, nearest tube South Kensington

Prices: £7, conc. £5

For more information: www.institut-francais.org.uk, tel: 020 7073 1350

Dir. Yousry Nasrallah | Egypt, France, Germany | 2008 | 111 min | cert. 15 |
With Hend Sabry, Amr Waked, Gamil Rateb, Bassem Samra, Ahmed El Fichawy, Dorra Zarouk

This screening is part of the Mosaiques 2008 film festival, which takes place from 21-29 May, and is supported by AMW.