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
Half of a Yellow Sun (2013)
6.2/10
Director: Biyi Bandele
Starring: Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle, John Boyega
In the late 1960s, twin sisters Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) arrive back home in Nigeria, having finished their studies in En... Read more
Hunting Elephants (2013)
6.4/10
Director: Reshef Levi
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov
"Hunting Elephants" centers on a 12-year-old Israeli boy named Jonathan, who is dealt a cruel double-blow by fate. First his father is killed in a fre... Read more
Cupcakes (2013)
6/10
Director: Eytan Fox
Starring: Anat Waxman, Yael Bar-Zohar, Ofer Shechter, Dana Ivgy, Efrat Dor, Keren Berger
A.k.a. "Bananot" ("Bananas"). When a group of best friends in Tel Aviv gather to watch Universong, they are less than impressed by the official Israel... Read more
Homeland (2013)
6.2/10
Director: Mohamed Hamidi
Starring: Tewfik Jallab, Jamel Debbouze
A.k.a. "Né quelque part". 26-year-old law student Farid has lived in France his whole life. When his father falls ill and sends him to Algeria to save... Read more
Wadjda (2012)
7.6/10
Director: Haifaa Al-Mansour
Starring: Reem Abdullah, Abdullrahman Al Gohani, Ahd , Waad Mohammed
A rebellious Saudi Arabian girl hatches a plan to get her hands on the bicycle she craves in this coming-of-age story from first time director Haifaa... Read more
Fill the Void (2012)
6.7/10
Director: Rama Burshtein
Starring: Yiftach Klein, Hadas Yaron, Irit Sheleg, Chaim Sharir
"Fill the Void" tells the story of eighteen-year-old Shira (Hadas Yaron), who is the youngest daughter of her family. Her dreams are about to come tru... Read more
Prisoners of War: Series 2 (2012)
8.5/10
Starring: Ishai Golan, Mili Avital, Assi Cohen, Yoram Toledano, Gal Zaid
The Israeli drama on which the U.S. series "Homeland" is based. Series two starts where series one ended - Nimrode and Uri continue to pick up the pie... Read more
The Patience Stone (2012)
7.1/10
Director: Atiq Rahimi
Starring: Golshifteh Farahani
In a country torn apart by war, a young woman watches over her older husband. A bullet in the neck has reduced him to a comatose state. One day, the w... Read more
Bekas (2012)
7.5/10
Director: Karzan Kader
Starring: Zamand Taha, Sarwar Fazil
In 1990, two Kurdish orphans catch a glimpse of a 'Superman' film screening and set off to find the hero they believe has the power to fix all their p... Read more
War Witch ( Rebelle ) (2012)
7.1/10
Director: Kim Nguyen
Starring: Rachel Mwanza, Alain Bastien, Serge Kanyinda, Ralph Prosper, Mizinga Mwinga
A.k.a. "Rebelle". Komona (Rachel Mwanza) is only 12 years old when she is kidnapped by rebel soldiers and enslaved to a life of guerrilla warfare in t... Read more