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
Walk On Water (2004)
7.4/10
Director: Eytan Fox
Starring: Lior Ashkenazi, Knut Berger, Carolina Peters, Gidon Shemer
Eyal is a Mossad assassin sent to kill an aging Nazi war criminal. The target's grandaughter is living on a kibbutz in Israel and her brother is abou... 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
Where Do We Go Now? (2011)
7.5/10
Director: Nadine Labaki
Starring: Nadine Labaki, Claude Baz Moussawbaa, Layla Hakim, Yvonne Maalouf
Christians and Muslims lived peacefully together for years in this small Lebanese village, but animosities begin to build among the men as a result of... Read more
Wings Of Honour (Angel of the Skies) (2013)
4/10
War is declared and Britain must take action against Nazi Germany if Europe is going to be saved from its ruthless clutches. Read more
Winter Sleep (2014)
8.2/10
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Starring: Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sozen, Demet Akbag
Aydin, a former actor, runs a small hotel in central Anatolia with his young wife Nihal with whom he has a stormy relationship and his sister Necla wh... Read more
Working Woman (2018)
7/10
Starring: Liron Ben-Shlush, Menashe Noy, Oshri Cohen
Life at work becomes unbearable for Orna. Her boss appreciates and promotes her, while making inappropriate advances. Her husband struggles to keep hi... Read more
Xala (1975)
6.8/10
Director: Ousmane Sembene
Starring: Thiero Leye, Seun Samb
Xala ('Impotence') is a Senegalese social comedy, filmed in the Wolof language. A rich, corrupt business executive marries for the third time for the... Read more
Yeelen (1987)
Director: Souleymane Cisse
Starring: Balla Moussa Keita, Issiaka Kane, Soumba Traoure
Conceivably one of the finest films to come out of Africa, this stunning adaptation of an oral legend from Mali is set amidst the powerful Mali Empire... Read more
Yesterday (2004)
7.8/10
Director: Darrell Roodt
Starring: Leleti Khumalo, Kenneth Khambula, Lihle Mvelase, Harriet Lenabe, Camilla Walker
The first major feature film to be made entirely in the Zulu language, writer/director Darrell Roodt returned to his homeland to tell a truly African... Read more
Yossi and Jagger (2002)
Director: Eytan Fox
Starring: Ohad Knoller, Yehuda Levi
This unusual gay-themed war drama from Israel tracks a squad of soldiers stationed along the Lebanese border and the romantic relationship that develo... Read more