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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

Circumstance (2011)

5.9/10
Director: Maryam Keshavarz
Starring: Nikohl Boosheri, Sarah Kazemy, Reza Sixo Safai, Soheil Parsa, Nasrin Pakkho, Sin...

Within the oppressive society of contemporary Iran, two Tehran schoolgirls are romantically drawn to each other and seek the freedom to live their liv... Read more

Persepolis (2007)

8.1/10
Director: Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud
Starring: (Voices of) , Catherine Deneuve, Iggy Pop, Gena Rowlands, Sean Penn

Based on her autobiographical graphic novels, Marjane Satrapi and co-screenwriter Vincent Paronnaud directed this Oscar-nominated, black-and-white ani... Read more

The Hunter (2010)

6.3/10
Director: Rafi Pitts
Starring: Mitra Hajjar, Rafi Pitts

"Shekarchi" Ali (Rafi Pitts) is a reformed criminal who lives in a small flat in Tehran with his wife Sara and their young daughter Saba. While he's g... Read more

Satin Rouge (2002)

Director: Raja Amari
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Maher Kamoun, Monia Hichri

A.k.a. "Red Satin". A Tunisian widow takes an unlikely journey of self-discovery in Raja Amarji's sumptuous and sensual "Satin Rouge". While investiga... Read more

A Thousand Months (2003)

6.3/10
Director: Faouzi Bensaidi
Starring: Fouad Labied, Nezha Rahil, Mohammed Majo

Set during Ramadan in 1981, "A Thousand Months" tells the story of Medhi, a seven-year-old boy (Fouad Labied) who lives in the Atlas Mountains. His jo... Read more

Ushpizin (2005)

7.4/10
Director: Gidi Dar
Starring: Shuli Rand, Michal Bat Sheva Rand, Shaul Mizrahi, Ilan Ganani

Devout Orthodox Jews Moshe and Mali (played by scriptwriter and devout Orthodox Jew Shuli Rand and his real-life wife) are celebrating Sukkot, a time... Read more

Honey ( Bal ) (2008)

5.3/10
Director: Semith Kaplanoglu
Starring: Bora Altas

Yusuf is an only child who lives with his parents in the isolated mountains of North-Eastern Turkey. His father, Yakup, is a traditional beekeeper. He... Read more

Omar (2013)

7.6/10
Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Starring: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany, Samer Bisharat

Like the Palestinian towns across the West Bank split by high Israeli walls, Omar (Adam Bakri) is a divided man. A baker by trade he must scale the co... Read more

The Day I Became a Woman (2000)

7.3/10
Director: Marziyeh Meshkini
Starring: Fatemeh Cheragh, Akhar, Shabnam Toloui, Azizeh Sedighi

Marziyeh Meshkini's compelling and poignant study of the elementary problems faced by women in Eastern societies looks at three different generations... Read more

A Screaming Man (2010)

6.8/10
Director: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
Starring: Youssouf Djaoro, Diouc Koma

A highly-regarded drama set in modern-day Chad, "A Screaming Man" sees Youssouf Djaoro play Adam, a one-time swimming champion now in his mid-fifties... Read more