Watch Luxor

Luxor is a slow-burning drama film from 2020, directed by Zeina Durra, that follows an aid worker, Hana (Andrea Riseborough), returning to Luxor, Egypt after years away. The city holds memories of her past relationships, including one with an archeologist Sultan (Karim Saleh). Upon her return, Hana reconnects with Sultan and the two embark on a journey to explore ancient tombs.

The movie begins with Hana arriving in Luxor exhausted from the chaos of the Syrian war. She is lost, unsure of what she hopes to find in Luxor. Hana struggles to find her footing in the bustling city, but as she wanders through the ancient streets, she starts to reconnect with her past. She visits a temple where she and Sultan once met, and she remembers what brought them together.

As Hana continues to wander, she runs into Sultan, who is still working as an archeologist. Their meeting is awkward at first, as they both come to terms with the past. Despite this, they immediately connect and Hana starts to feel alive again.

Throughout the movie, the audience follows Hana's journey through Luxor, as she visits ancient tombs and explores the city with Sultan. Meanwhile, Hana is also struggling with PTSD, as she grapples with the horrors she has seen in the Syrian war. These struggles come to a head when she meets a man named Leo (Michael Landes), who reminds her of the people she has lost.

The relationship between Hana and Leo is complicated, as the two have a deep connection despite only having just met. Leo questions her about her work and her experiences, leading to an emotionally charged discussion about the cost of war. Through it, Hana confronts the reality of the PTSD she has been trying to avoid.

As Hana continues to explore the city, she reconnects with other people from her past. One of those people is Salima (Shereen Reda), a woman who runs the hotel where she stays. Salima is less than happy about Hana's presence, as she believes Hana abandoned her years ago.

Despite the tension in their relationship, Salima slowly starts to open up to Hana, and eventually, the two women start to bond over shared experiences, including the trauma they experienced in their respective wars.

Overall, Luxor is a beautifully shot, slow-burning drama that explores both the beauty and the trauma of Egypt. The film's stunning visuals give viewers glimpses into the rich history of Luxor, while Andrea Riseborough's strong performance as Hana provides a window into the complex emotional experiences of a woman grappling with PTSD.

The film's pacing is slow, but this only serves to highlight the quiet beauty of Luxor. Rather than rushing through the plot, the movie allows for moments of reflection, providing the opportunity for the audience to connect with both the characters and the environment.

As a whole, Luxor is a profoundly moving film that explores trauma, love, and loss. Through its close observations of the landscape of Luxor and the often complicated relationships that Hana navigates, the film tells a deeply human story that is bound to resonate with viewers.

Luxor is a 2020 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 69.