Arabic Language Films

[franco]

Although the number of Arabic speakers and Arabic countries can indicate an abundance in artistic expressions, there are hardly names that get passed around the circles of cinephiles - not even Acquarello talks much about Arabic language films!

There is Elia Suleiman, whose Divine Intervention is pretty cute. I absolutely adore Control Room. Bab'Aziz from Tunisia is absolute crap, and I have little desire to see Paradise Now, after all that bashing...

I think eventually I will be questioned for my intent, and vague criteria. What do I mean by "Arabic Language Cinema"? Well, I reckon that I am asking for leads into films produced in Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Palestine, and so on, or made by people of Arabic roots in other countries.

Thanks for your attention

[backstreetsbackalright]

Arab Film Distribution

[spencerw]

In my view, one of the best films of recent years from any country is Tunisian director Moufida Tlatli's La Saison des Hommes (The Season of Men). For some background material, see:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/in ... 36,00.html

http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/2051/

http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xh ... feature-01

The film is available on a French DVD, but only with French subtitles, alas: http://www.editionsmontparnasse.fr/mini ... &undefined

[Barmy]

"Adore" "Control Room"??? A ridiculously one-sided documentary that completely ignores Al Jazeera's role as a terrorist mouthpiece. Adore? Wow.

[franco]

Whoa, thank you for the suggestions!

I do remember hearing about La Saison des Hommes. Time to use the French I have learned this year.

David, is Tarik el Hob on DVD anywhere? (EDIT: Yes, and Arab Film Distribution charges 300 dollars for it)

"Adore" "Control Room"??? A ridiculously one-sided documentary that completely ignores Al Jazeera's role as a terrorist mouthpiece. Adore? Wow.

Exactly. I am politically backwards. Plus, Deema Khatib is hot!

[Anonymous]

You might want to check out Youssef Chahine's films. His most popular film is Saladin (1963), which is available only on vhs. There's also his Alexander Trilogy, which I haven't seen but have heard positive word from my Arab friends.

"Adore" "Control Room"??? A ridiculously one-sided documentary that completely ignores Al Jazeera's role as a terrorist mouthpiece. Adore? Wow.

Are your fav movie reviewers Debbie Schlussel and Ann Coulter?

[leo goldsmith]

I have little desire to see Paradise Now, after all that bashing...

Not sure where all the bashing was (on these boards?), but this is a pretty good film. Certainly worth seeing, even if it coheres to a rather conventional mode of storytelling by the end. It makes for especially interesting viewing alongside more thoughtful filmmakers like Suleiman and Avi Mograbi (who's Israeli, of course), who see the conflict less as melodrama and more as a disjunctive, vérité kind of experience.

"Adore" "Control Room"??? A ridiculously one-sided documentary that completely ignores Al Jazeera's role as a terrorist mouthpiece. Adore? Wow.

It seems to me that the point of this film is that media outlets (even the American ones!) are inherently biased ... So ...

[franco]

Yeah, that's right! Where do people bash Paradise Now? I reckon the ridicules primarily came from Haifa - probably not the best source of bashing to take seriously

All right Leo, I am convinced that my reasons for avoiding Paradise Now are unconvincing. It has probably been criticized more for what it is not than for what it is - like Brokeback Mountain.

[davida2]

Road to Love/Tarik al Hob is available on a Waterbearer R1 DVD. Color control is terrible. Shot on video it goes from "natural" video in the first ten minutes to a pinky-green bias and stays there. But the only version at a reasonable price.

Ugh...Water Bearer and their quality issues...

I'd also recommend Ziad Douieri's West Beirut, no R1 DVD, but a fine film.

[colinr0380]

There is also the Kino Halfaouine: Boy Of The Terraces which includes a documentary by the director out in Region 1.

[Lemmy Caution]

Article on Arab filmmakers and Arab Film Festivals