Northbound Cairo

“It’s no bag of pretzels!” Little does Max realize that it is a bag of pretzels, and much, much more. His planned trip to Georgian Bay to document a self-absorbed artist’s work is turned into a personal nightmare by the artist’s doting wife, indifferent children, and Mara, a young woman who has appeared out of an Egyptian dream to taunt him and to confront his neo-macho self-image. An idyllic drive into cottage country is transformed into a metaphorical journey through unfamiliar territory and cinematic absurdity. “Northbound Cairo” is a half-hour experimental comedy. Mara, a vivacious, young woman, has an inexplicable attraction for a cynical, older man, Max. Max is going to Georgian Bay for the weekend with his friend, Hirsh, Hirsh’s wife Sarah, and their two daughters, Rachel and Judy. Mara invites herself along. The character of Mara plays with the Egyptian goddess archetype. As the story progresses, Mara becomes more and more Egyptian in appearance. A simple flirtation becomes a threatening pursuit. The myth of the “seductive temptress” has always existed from Cleopatra to Marilyn Monroe. What does an ordinary man do when this fantasy is literally dropped into his lap? Music by Julie Masi (formerly Parachute Club) and The Palace at 4 A.M.