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African & Middle Eastern

Alice has precious few (but building) films from the Middle East and even fewer from the vast continent of Africa. Middle Eastern films are often highly politicised, bringing subjects to the attention of audiences that would otherwise know little about them. Film makers are often dealing with various forms of political and social oppression and even armed conflicts to bring their stories to light. Exotic scenery, allegorical storytelling and close-up exposure to cultural norms, so different from our own, bring a kind of immersion only rivalled by being there. To find a title from a specific country use the By Country link on the left. Pictured: A Time for Drunken Horses

Jerusalema (2008)

7.7/10
Director: Ralph Ziman
Starring: Rapulana Seiphemo, Ronnie Nyakale, Shelly Meskin, Jeffrey Sekele

Having cut his teeth on carjacking, young Lucky Kunene dreams of bigger scores with loose-cannon chum Zakes. Relocating to the rough-and-tumble Hillbr... Read more

Joy of Madness (2003)

7.2/10
Director: Hana Makhmalbaf
Starring: Agheleh Rezaie, Agheleh Farahmand, Bibigol Asef, Sima Asef, Haji Rahmodin, Razi...

Based on the premise that nobody would notice a 14-year-old girl brandishing a handheld camera, Hana Makhmalbaf, daughter of renowned Iranian filmmake... Read more

Kandahar (2001)

6.8/10
Director: Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Starring: Nelofer Pazira, Hassan Tantai, Sadou Teymouri, Hoyatala Hakimi

Nafas, a young Afghan journalist now living in Canada recieves a desperate letter from her sister in Afghanistan who intends to kill herself at the ne... Read more

Kippur (2000)

6.4/10
Director: Amos Gitai
Starring: Liron Levo, Tomer Russo

The film takes place in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, in which Egypt and Syria launched attacks in Sinai and the Golan Heights. Although the story... Read more

Le Grand Voyage (2004)

Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Starring: Jacky Nercessian, Nicolas Cazale, Mohamed Majd

A middle-aged man of Moroccan descent (Mohamed Majd) embarks on a long journey from southern France to Mecca -- but for this crusade, he unexpectedly... Read more

Lebanon (2009)

6.9/10
Director: Samuel Maoz
Starring: Oshri Cohen, Yoav Donat, Michael Moshonov, Italy Tiran

This harrowing drama from Israel looks at the 1982 Lebanon War through the eyes of four young Israeli soldiers, trapped inside a tank bound for the Le... Read more

Lemon Tree (2008)

7.4/10
Director: Eran Riklis
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Doron Tavory, Ali Suliman, Rona Lipaz-Michael, Tarik Kopty

Widow Salma Zidane lives on the Palestinian West Bank, in a small house surrounded by lemon trees that her great grandparents planted. Unfortunately,... Read more

Life, Above All (2010)

7.1/10
Director: Oliver Schmitz
Starring: Lerato Mvelase, Harriet Manamela, Khomotso Manyaka

Based on Allan Stratton's novel "Chanda's Secrets", this moving drama set in South Africa tells the story of young Chanda (Khomotso Manyaka), a child... Read more

Live and Become (2005)

7.9/10
Director: Radu Mihaileanu
Starring: Yael Abecassis, Roschdy Zem, Moshe Agazai, Moshe Abebe, Sirak M Sabahat, Roni Ha...

In 1984, at the height of the Ethiopian famine, Israel put 'Operation Moses' into effect where they airlifted over 8000 Jews from the afflicted region... Read more

Love and Dance (2006)

4.9/10
Director: Eitan Anner
Starring: Vladimir Volov, Avi Kushnir, Oksana Korostyshevskaya, Valeria Voevodin, Jenya Do...

Just on the cusp of puberty, Chen is also caught between two cultures. Equally attuned to his beautiful Russian mother's love of culture and the arts,... Read more