Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
Arab Labor: Complete First Season Disc 1/Disc2
Run time: 150 min. each
Arab Labor is a raucous and irreverent critically
acclaimed comedy series from Israel about Amjad, a
Palestinian journalist and Israel citizen in search for his
identity. His personal quest for status and success as a
Journalist at a Jerusalem newspaper is foiled by the
humiliating searches he endures everyday when he
leaves his Palestinian neighborhood to commute to his
job.
Battle for Islam, The
Run Time: 63 min.
A far-reaching exploration of Islam after 9/11, this program
follows renowned scholar Ziauddin Sardar on an eyeopening journey through Morocco, Turkey, Pakistan,
Malaysia, and Indonesia. Sardar interviews Muslims with
widely varying political leanings—including Pakistan’s
President Pervez Musharraf, other government leaders,
women’s rights activists, and a cleric who promotes an
extremely conservative form of Sharia.
Bride of the Nile, The
Run time: 101 min.
When oil engineer Sami “Roushdy Abaza” starts digging for
oil in Luxor, he disturbs the spirits of the ancient Egyptians
buried beneath the ground. The spirits then decide to send
him with the last bride of the Nile, Hamees “Lobna Abdel
Aziz” to stop him. Will Hamees succeed or will modern
technology destroy the ancient civilization?
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Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
Caramel
Run time: 93 min.
A Beirut beauty salon becomes a treasured meeting place
for several women, from various wlaks of life, to talk, seek
advice and confide in one another.
Days and Nights (Ayyam wa Layali)
Run Time: 102 min.
This romantic musical-drama from director Henri Barakat
(The Nightingale's Prayer) features legendary Egyptian singer
Abdel Halim Hafez in one of his earliest film roles. He stars as
Yehia, a handsome young athlete who succeeds in every
endeavor despite having been reared in an unhappy home.
When Yehia starts courting the beautiful Samia (Lebanese
actress Iman), his delinquent and resentful stepbrother begins
acting out in ways that threaten to destroy all chances for the
new couple's happiness.
Destiny (Al-maSiiH) – Le Destin
Run time: 130 min.
The story is set in the 12th century in Arab-ruled Spanish
province Andalusia, where famed philosopher Averroes is
appointed grand judge by the caliph and his liberal court
judgements are not liked by everyone. The caliph's
political rivals, centered around the leader of a fanatical
Islamic sect, force the caliph to send Averroes into exile,
but his ideas keep on living thanks to his students.
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Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
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Dishing Democracy: Arab Social Reform
via Satellite TV
Run Time: 57 min.
It makes personal life the topic of public discussion. It
serves as an alternate forum for dialogue and debate. And
it does not shy away from sensitive issues. This Wide
Angle report gives an inside look at the popular Arab allfemale talk show Kalam Nawaem. The program provides a
detailed portrait of the hosts- four highly articulate Arab
women of different ages, nationalities and viewpoints- as
they wield the power of transnational satellite TV to
boldly and effectively push social reform in primetime.
Encyclopedia of Egyptians pharonic civilizationInternational Edition
Run Time: 126 min.
Egypt is name that was honored and glorified by all holy
books and was written in letter of light in the history
Egypt the greatest civilization in its noblest meaning an
its excellent scenes that still a life after tens of centuries
challenges ages geology and technology it supreme all
levels of human conceptions that made minds and sights
at loss in this programmer we present the greatest
encyclopedia of the pharonic civilization with sound
picture and video for the first and greatest civilization
that man had ever knew.
Everything Is Fine
Run Time: 98 min.
Hailed as one of the greatest Egytian comedies of all time, Everything
is Fine stars Egyptian theatre legend Naguib Al- Rihani 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.
Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
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Fatma (with Umm Kulthum)
Run time: 126 min.
The legendary diva Umm Kulthum stars in this classic film about a poor
nurse who falls in love with the son of one of her wealthy patients.
Abandoned by her husband while pregnant, she must fight her husband’s
wealthy and powerful family in court.
Hasan wa Morqos
Run Time: 96 min.
Adel Emam presents the character of a Christian theology professor who
comes under the threat of assassination by extremists so he flees for
safety. He becomes (Hasan Elattar) then he travels to Alexandria and
continues his life there. On the other side we find a Religious Muslim
man characterized by Omar Elsherief whose brother has died to leave
for the leadership of a group of fanatics which he declines. Then he faces
some failure assassination attempt and flees for security. Then he gets
granted a new name which is Morqos Abdelshaheed.
Inside Mecca (National Geographic)
Run Time: 60 min.
Few non-Muslims have glimpsed its sacred glories. All Muslims are
drawn by its holy summons. Now, travel to Islam’s most revered city to
experience a spiritual phenomenon that has endured for more than
fourteen centuries INSIDE MECCA. Witness the personal challenges and
spiritual rewards of three pilgrims as they join some two million fellow
Muslims on their hajj or sacred journey to Mecca. Explore key Islamic
sites and ancient rituals that only a handful of non-Muslims have
witnessed. Discover the spiritually charged history of Mecca and its place
at the center of the fastest growing and perhaps most misunderstood
religion in the world.
Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
Iraq in Fragments
Run time: 94 min.
An opus in three parts, Iraq in Fragments offers a series of intimate,
passionately-felt portraits: A fatherless 11-year-old is apprenticed to the
domineering owner of a Baghdad garage; Sadr followers in the two Shiite
cities rally for regional elections while enforcing Islamic law at the point of
a gun; a family of Kurdish farmers welcomes the US presence, which has
allowed them a measure of freedom previously denied. American director
James Longley spent more than two years filming in Iraq to create this
stunningly photographed, poetically rendered documentary of the wartorn country as seen through the eyes of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
DVD of Levantine Videos for Al-Kitaab Arabic Language Program
Run Time: 60 min.
The DVD of Levantine Videos for Al-Kitaab Arabic Language Program
provides comparable colloquial materials no in Levantine. Filmed
entirely in Damascus, these video dialogues have been “translated” to
reflect the greater Levantine language and culture and follow the
parallel story of two new characters, Nasreen and Tariq. The DVD
feature Levantine versions of all the dialogue clips that correspond to
each of the program’s four volumes, from Alif Baa through Al-Kitaab Part
Three.
Message, The
Run Time: 178 min.
It was a movie seven years in the making, filmed in two separate versions
with a cast of thousands, and featuring an Oscar nominated score by
Maurice Jarre. This is the epic story of the prophet Mohammad, whose
holy revelations defied a pagan society and changed the world forever.
Two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Quinn stars in this landmark
international hit produced and directed by Moustapha Akkad that
remains the most powerful and acclaimed movie ever made about the
birth of Islam.
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Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
Middle East (Globe Trekker)
Run Time: 240 min.
Known as the cradle of civilization, the Middle East is the meeting point
between Africa, Europe and Asia, and contains some of the most
beautiful and mystical scenery in the world. Due to cultural and political
complexities, only a handful of visitors get to experience the genuine
hospitality of the people and see the region’s stunning ancient cities.
Traveler Ian Wright starts his journey in Jordan’s Wadi Rum Desert,
traveling south past the ruins at Petra and then on to Beirut in Lebanon.
He ends his journey in Syria at the ancient town of Palmyra.
Mother of the Bride (Umm al-Aroussa)
Run Time: 102 min.
This magnificently madcap comedy classic stars Egyptian film legends
Tahiya Karioka and Emad Hamdi as Zeinab and Hussein, overworked
parents who get little relief from the never ending demands of their seven
mischievous children. When their eldest daughter, Ahlam, meets a
dashing young man at a party, it’s love at first sight and wedding plans
must quickly be arranged. As preparations get underway, Zeinab and
Hussein are soon overwhelmed by the elaborate and costly requests made
by the groom’s extravagant family.
Muhammad: The Last Prophet
Run Time: 95 min.
From the creators of The King and I, The Fox and the Hound, and
the Swan Princess comes the first animated feature length film
about Islam’s Prophet. This groundbreaking film is set around
1400 years ago during the early years of Islam. The film relates
the events that unfolded and led to the rise of a renewed
religion in the Arabian desert, eventually spanning 7 continents
and counting 1.6 billion adherents around the world.
This movie aims to introduce the story of Islam and tits Prophet
to new generations in the appealing and accessible medium of
animation.
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Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
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Osama
Run Time: 83 min.
Inspired by s true story, this Golden Globe-winning drama is the first film
made by Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. Hailed by critics as
“stunning”, “breathtaking” and “emotionally charged”, Osama is a “striking
work of cinematic art”. After the brutal Taliban regime bans women from
working and forbids them from leaving their homes without a male escort,
a 12-year-old girl and her mother find themselves on the brink of
starvation.
Rachida
Run Time: 100 min.
Rachida, a young and self-assured teacher at an elementary school,
becomes the target of terrorists when she refuses to place a bomb in her
classroom. This acclaimed debt feature offers a unique glipse into the lives
of ordinary citizens in Algeria, where terrorism was commonplace during
the civil conflict of the 1990s.
A Separation
Run Time: 123 min.
Set in contemporary Iran, A Separation is a compelling drama about the
dissolution of a marriage. Simin wants to leave Iran with her husband Nader
and daughter Termeh. Simin sues for divorce when Nader refuses to leave
behind his Alzheimer’s suffering father. Her request having failed, Simin
returns to her parents home while Termeh decides to stay with Nader. When
Nader hired a young woman to assist with is father in his wife’s absence, he
hopes that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers
that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the
line than just his marriage.
Arabic Movie Summaries
September 2015
Rick Steve's Egypt (including Israel, Turkey, and Iran)
As he's done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and Eastern Turkey,
Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place that's rich with history...and
mystery.
Turtles Can Fly
Run Time: 97 min.
From the acclaimed director Bahman Ghobadi comes the first film shot in
Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. “Heart-wrenching as well as spirit
raising”, Turtles Can Fly mixes humor and tragedy to startling effect,
resulting in a “very timely masterpiece” about children struggling to survive
in an endless war-zone. On the Iraqi-Turkish border, enterprising 13-yearold “Satellite” is the de facto leader of a Kurdish village , thanks to his ability
to install satellite dishes and translate news of the pending US invasion.
Organizing fellow orphans into landmine-collection teams so that they can
eke out a living, he is all business… until the arrival of a clairvoyant boy and
his quiet, beautiful sister.
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