The United States Consulate General in Jeddah screened the 2007 Golden Globe & Academy Award Winner ‘Dream Girls' for a “houseful” of invited guests at the consulate premises complete with free popcorn on Saturday night. As Consul General Martin R. Quinn said in his short welcome speech, the movie was being shown on an experimental basis for the first time after many years to see how it is received. Quinn said it was significant that the all-black movie was being shown on the concluding day of Black History Month. He added that in the distant past movie screenings at the US mission used to be frequent, and so “after soundings,” the step was taken to revive it. He said this was the beginning of a planned series of cultural programs. It may be noted that a recent study of public opinion in predominantly Muslim countries, titled Public Opinion in the Islamic World on Terrorism, Al-Qaeda, and US Policies, whose results were released last week, inter alia, showed that views of the American people and culture are not as negative as those of the American government. In Iran, for example, 51 percent viewed the American people favorably, up from 45 percent in late 2006. Those with an unfavorable view diminished from 49 percent in 2006 to 37 percent in 2008. One can surmise that the survey points to the fact that a new world is emerging, where it is necessary to cement people-to-people relations, forgetting “permanent interests,” and making “permanent friends.” Lina Gazzaz, a young Saudi artist, told Saudi Gazette that she loved the movie and liked the idea of its being screened. “It shows the development of African Americans,” she said, and added, “Life is a struggle, more so for some, especially those who dream to become somebody and achieve something. “ She said that such film screening events strengthen interaction among peoples. “It is a welcome effort in the direction of social communication and understanding of cultures. Whatever happens, after all, people are friends,” said Gazzaz. Even though regular screenings of films and a cinema house have still to become a part of public entertainment, one can say that the film scene in Saudi Arabia's gaining momentum. The Rotana entertainment group, controlled by Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal, screened ‘Manahi' in Jeddah and Taif for about a week from Dec. 9. The screenings were approved by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah. In the latest development, beginning March 7, the Asian Consuls General Club will organize its second 13-day Asian film festival at the auditorium of the residence of the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah. Feature films and documentaries of the member countries will be screened during the festival. The musical, ‘Dream Girls,' which won three awards at the 64th Golden Globe Awards ceremony in 2007, including best picture – musical or comedy, and two Oscars at the 79th Academy Awards, is directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced by Dream Works Pictures and paramount Pictures. Released in 2006 to wide acclaim, ‘Dream Girls' is a period piece set in the 1960s and 1970s with a primarily African
