Arabic

  • Mohamed Chouikh – El kalaa AKA The Citadel (1989)

    1981-1990AlgeriaArthouseDramaMohamed Chouikh

    Synopsis:
    Set in a rugged little Algerian mountain village, in a moslem culture, where male and female society works under a strongly patriarchal controlling influence. Insensitive and brutish Sidi has three wives, one-near suicide, and an adoptive son whom he beats and intends to force into a farcical marriage. Simple-minded Kaddour cannot find a bride and is eventually married to a mannequin dummy…Read More »

  • Rami Imam – Hassan wa Morcus AKA Hassan and Marcus (2008)

    2001-2010DramaEgyptRami Imam

    When the lives of Sheikh Mahmoud, a Muslim preacher (played by Omar Sharif), and Boulos, a Christian priest (played by Adel Emam), are threatened by religious extremists on both sides, the Egyptian government inducts them into a witness protection program that requires them to disguise themselves as the Christian Marcus and the Muslim Sheikh Hassan, in a reversal of their religious identities. When they unwittingly move into the same building, a friendship blossoms that must, along with a romance between their respective children, withstand the difficulties of prejudice and social persecution. The film addresses issues of religious extremism, intolerance and sectarian violence, and emphasizes the possibility of friendship and love between members of different religions.Read More »

  • Youssef Chahine – Siraa Fil-Wadi AKA Struggle In the Valley (1954)

    1951-1960DramaEgyptRomanceYoussef Chahine

    I have watched this movie maybe 20 times till now ,and every time i got out with the feeling that this movie is great , it gives you a great picture about Egypt before 1952 , The land owner that control the farmers (Basha) and treat them like salves , the killing circle (Al-Tar) that is well known in upper Egypt , and the love story that will never change with time , and the evil and greedy people that never get enough , it is all in this movies. The uncountable number of stars with a very talented director gave us this state of art movie. (islamx – IMDB).Read More »

  • Borhane Alaouié – Lettre d’un temps d’exil AKA Letter from a Time of Exile (1988)

    1981-1990ArthouseBorhane AlaouiéDocumentaryLebanon

    Alaouié presents the stories of four exiles from Beirut. Their only connection is the voice of the narrator and their situation of living in exile in Europe. Told with a subtle humor, the film sketches four highly individual portraits of people, whose lives have taken unexpected turns due to the madness of the Civil War.Read More »

  • Saeed Al Batal & Ghiath Ayoub – Still Recording (2018)

    2011-2020DocumentaryGhiath AyoubSaeed Al BatalSyria

    In 2011, Saeed and Milad decide to leave Damascus for Douma (in Eastern Ghouta) to take part in the Syrian revolution. Events move fast: Douma is liberated by the rebels, the revolutionary enthusiasm spreads among the young, then comes war, siege, famine… They filmed life in Douma for more than four years, from the initial euphoria to the distress and disenchantment that settled in over the years.Read More »

  • Niazi Mostafa – Salama fi khair AKA Everything is Fine (1937)

    1931-1940ClassicsComedyEgyptNiazi Mostafa

    Hailed as one of the greatest Egyptian comedies of all time, Everything Is Fine stars Egyptian theatre legend Naguib El Rihany as Salama, a humble office clerk whose routine bank-deposit errand quickly evolves into the adventure of a lifetime. After finding the bank closed and the streets seemingly swarming with thieves, Salama decides to place the company money in a safe at the luxurious Nefretiti Palace Hotel. But things go hilariously awry when the hotel manager mistakes him for an eagerly-awaited guest, the wealthy Prince Kandahar of Bloudestan. As in the early films of The Marx Brothers and other timeless screwball comedies of the 1930s, Everything Is Fine pokes fun at society’s elite while taking viewers on a fast-paced comedic romp that will leave audiences of all ages feeling fine.Read More »

  • Niazi Mostafa – Sigarah wa kas AKA A Glass and a Cigarette (1955)

    Drama1951-1960ClassicsEgyptNiazi Mostafa

    Former Miss Egypt and international recording artist Dalida sings and stars in this steamy 1950s drama, following a conniving nurse’s (Dalida) attempts to seduce a married doctor (Nabil Al alfi) and his jealous wife’s subsequent downfall. Midriff-baring enchantress Samia Gamal — who plays the physician’s envy-consumed spouse — makes a memorable splash by performing a classic Oriental belly dance. Kouka and Sirag Mounir co-star.Read More »

  • Hasan El-Saifi – Mamnou Fi Laylat El-Dokhla AKA Forbidden on the Wedding Night (1975)

    1971-1980ComedyEgyptFantasyHasan El-Saifi

    Tahseen loves his girlfriend Mona but her controlling and domineering mother Zareefa is against their marriage and believes her daughter deserves a better suitor than him. When the mother drowns in an unexpected accident, the wedding of Tahseen and Mona takes place shortly after the funeral, and Mona’s father Ashour plans to wed his old time lover Zoba. However, Zareefa’s ghost appears in front of Tahseen who is the only person that can see her as she forces him to divorce Mona at once, but he refuses to do so and her presence causes more problems to the people who thought they were rid of her.Read More »

  • Jayce Salloum & Elia Suleiman – Introduction to the End of an Argument (1990)

    1981-1990CanadaDocumentaryElia SuleimanExperimentalJayce Salloum

    This highly kinetic tableaux of uprooted sights and sounds works most earnestly to expose the racial biases concealed in familiar images. Relying on valuable snippets from feature films such as “Exodus”, “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Black Sunday”, “Little Drummer Girl”, and network news shows, the filmmakers have constructed an oddly wry narrative, mimicking the history of Mid East politics.Read More »

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