Director Rachid Bouchareb might have lost out on the Foreign Language Film Oscar to Susanne Bier at this past weekend’s ceremony, but he won’t be too worried, as he’s about to start work on Just Like a Woman, a drama that features Sienna Miller in a belly dancing costume.
The story finds a Chicago housewife (Miller) who leaves her mundane life behind to flee with her belly-dancing teacher to a Las Vegas dance competition. But this is not some tawdry jigglesploitation flick (stop making that disappointed face), but something that explores honesty and emotion with a sure touch. At least, we think so – and Miller certainly appears to have faith in her director.
“Rachid is one of the most exciting directors working today,” she says. “He’s one of those people who understand the medium of film in a way that’s not manipulative but that’s honest and raw. As a director he’s capable of anything. The kinds of films he makes are the ones I like to watch.”
Despite the fact that she is about to open in Trevor Nunn’s new play Flare Path this week, she’ll start learning the noble art of the belly dance in preparation for the film, which kicks off shooting in New Mexico this June.