The film delves into the “Lovecraftian” horror of coffee cup reading, exploring themes of generational trauma and the 'third culture kid' experience.
AWAN (Arab Women Artists Now) Film Festival screened Amal Al-Agroobi’s British-Arab short film, Ladies Coffee, which harnesses the unique Arab tradition of coffee cup divination to evoke a horror narrative instantly recognisable to Arab audiences.
In the realm of horror cinema, crafting a compelling narrative often requires meticulous planning, believability, and coherence to captivate audiences and elicit the intended reactions. Typically, horror films unfold as feature-length narratives, allowing ample space for details to unfold and create the desired chilling effect.
However, Ladies Coffee achieves the same spine-tingling impact in less than ten minutes. The film stands out with its seamless and engrossing storyline, blending Arab identity and Middle Eastern traditions with H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror, presenting a thriller experience.
The age-old practice of reading coffee cups traces back centuries, steeped in mystery and heritage. Despite its origins, Arabs have embraced this ritual for generations, viewing it as a quintessential expression of Arab identity. Often, it accompanies evening coffee gatherings, particularly among women, with elder women typically conducting the divination.
These rituals serve as conduits for unravelling secrets, glimpsing into the future, and gaining profound insights into the coffee drinker’s persona. So ingrained are these customs in Arab communities that they have inspired various forms of art and music, notably exemplified by Abdelhalim Hafez’s iconic Egyptian song, Kareat Al Fengan (The Cup Reader).
Central to the coffee cup divination ritual are specific guidelines: authentic Arabic or Turkish coffee, cups with white interiors and saucers, a prescribed method of swirling the cup, and allowing the sediments to settle.
In Ladies Coffee, the narrative unfolds during a coffee matinee hosted by Roula in her opulent home adorned with statues and paintings. As Roula invites Zeina and her daughter Reem to partake in the ritual, events take a sinister turn, exposing Reem to unearthly horrors that propel her into a harrowing descent into madness.
Director Amal Al-Agroobi eschews Western horror tropes, opting instead to craft a story rooted in a simple deviation within a coffee reading ritual. This decision imbues the film with authenticity and fidelity to its Arab heritage.
Ladies Coffee, written and directed by Amal Al-Agroobi, features performances by Amira Al-Shanti, acclaimed British Jordanian actress Rania Kurdi, Faten Omary, and Nadia Lamin, delivering a cinematic experience that melds tradition with terror.
