Movies About Middle East

From Nadine Labaki, starring Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Kawsar Al Haddad
Rated R

Capernaum follows the story of Zain, a 12-year-old boy living in an impoverished slum in Beirut, Lebanon. Zain has been neglected and abused by his family and eventually decides to leave home, embarking on a journey of survival and self-discovery. Along the way, he meets a variety of people, from migrant workers to street children, who teach him valuable lessons about life and love. He also meets a young Ethiopian refugee, Rahil, and her infant son, Yonas. As Zain begins to care for Yonas, he finds a purpose and hope in life. This newfound hope is ultimately tested when Zain attempts to hold his parents accountable for their neglect and abuse in a court of law. In the end, Zain's courage and resilience in the face of adversity teaches us that hope, compassion, and love are essential for all of us to survive and thrive.

From Asghar Farhadi, starring Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat, Shahab Hosseini
Rated PG-13

A Separation is an Iranian drama directed by Asghar Farhadi and released in 2011. The film follows the story of a married couple, Simin and Nader, and their daughter, Termeh. Simin wants to move abroad with her family, but Nader refuses, as he needs to stay in Iran to take care of his father who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. The couple decides to get a divorce, and Simin moves in with her parents. Nader hires a young woman, Razieh, to work as a live-in caretaker for his father. After an argument between Razieh and Nader, she leaves the house and Nader finds out that she is pregnant. Later, it's revealed that Razieh had lied about her pregnancy to get the job. Meanwhile, Nader and Simin are dealing with their own issues in court. In the end, Simin wins the case and is able to take Termeh with her to the United States. Nader, however, is deeply affected by Razieh's lies and his own decisions and is left behind in Iran.

From Gillo Pontecorvo, starring Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi, Samia Kerbash
Rated Not Rated

The Battle of Algiers is a 1966 Italian-Algerian historical war drama film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo that portrays events during the Algerian War (1954–62) against the French government in North Africa. It follows a group of Algerian freedom fighters who use violent and non-violent tactics to combat French colonization and oppressio. The film focuses on the organization of the Algerian fighters, their recruitment by nationalist leaders, their struggle against the ruthless French police, and the eventual success of the Algerian revolution. The Battle of Algiers is a gripping and realistic depiction of the Algerian struggle for independence and serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of freedom, justice, and autonomy.

From Nuri Bilge Ceylan, starring Haluk Bilginer, Melisa Sözen, Demet Akbag, Ayberk Pekcan
Rated Not Rated

Winter Sleep is a 2014 Turkish drama film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Set in the Anatolian plateau of northern Turkey, the film follows Aydın, a retired actor turned wealthy landlord, and his family over the course of a winter. Aydın's relationships with his young wife, his sister, and his tenants are explored as Aydın's attempts to find meaning in his life is continuously challenged by the harsh winter climate. The film is divided into three acts, each one representing a stage in Aydın's journey to understanding the realities of his life. In the first act Aydın struggles to come to terms with his own mortality and the limited time he has to make a difference in the world. In the second act we see Aydın's relationships deteriorating under the weight of his own self-absorbed selfishness. Finally, in the third act Aydın comes to terms with his mortality and finds himself a changed man who is able to build meaningful relationships with the people around him. Winter Sleep's exploration of the human condition is at once beautiful and heartbreaking, and ultimately leaves the viewer with a sense of hope and understanding.

From Ari Folman, starring Ari Folman, Ron Ben-Yishai, Ronny Dayag, Ori Sivan
Rated R

Waltz with Bashir is a 2008 Israeli animated documentary directed by Ari Folman. It tells the story of Folman's experience as a soldier in the 1982 Lebanon War, in which Israel invaded Lebanon and attempted to drive out the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Through flashbacks and conversations with former comrades and other sources, Folman discovers that he and other members of his unit may have been involved in a massacre of Palestinian refugees. The film deconstructs the narrative of the war for Folman and his friends, who seek to understand their own role in the conflict. Through his exploration of his experiences, Folman comes to terms with the events of the war and the impact that it has had on his life. Waltz with Bashir is noted for its unique blending of documentary and animation, as well as its daring and uncompromising look at the Lebanon War.

From Jehane Noujaim, starring Ahmed Hassan, Khalid Abdalla, Magdy Ashour, Ramy Essam
Rated Not Rated

The Square is an Oscar-nominated documentary set in Cairo's Tahrir Square during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Following the lives of several protestors as they battle against Mubarak’s regime, the film captures the joy and excitement of the revolution as well as the pain and suffering of its aftermath. The film follows the stories of Ahmed Hassan, a young protestor who dreams of a better future for his country and Magdy Ashour, an elderly Muslim Brotherhood member who struggles to reconcile his faith with his desire for freedom. The film shows the power of peaceful protest and the cost of standing up for what you believe in. It culminates in the fall of Mubarak's regime and the start of a new era in Egypt's history.

From Bahman Ghobadi, starring Soran Ebrahim, Avaz Latif, Saddam Hossein Feysal, Hiresh Feysal Rahman
Rated PG-13

Turtles Can Fly is an Iranian film directed by Bahman Ghobadi. Set shortly before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the movie follows a group of refugee children and their families who are living in a Kurdish refugee camp on the Iraqi-Turkish border. The main character, a 13-year-old boy named Kak (Hirsh Feyssal), is a strong-willed and resourceful leader of the group. As the children prepare for war, Kak dreams of owning a satellite dish so he can stay connected to the outside world. With the help of his friends, Kak sets up a makeshift camp to earn money by collecting and selling unexploded landmines. Through his entrepreneurial efforts, Kak is able to raise money for satellite dishes, allowing his friends the opportunity to watch news coverage of the impending war. As the war approaches, Kak must navigate the physical and emotional dangers of life in the refugee camp, and make difficult choices about his future. Turtles Can Fly is a powerful coming-of-age story about resilience and courage in the face of conflict and uncertainty.

From Directors: Emad Burnat, Guy Davidi, starring Emad Burnat, Soraya Burnat, Mohammed Burnat, Yasin Burnat
Rated Not Rated

5 Broken Cameras is an Academy Award-nominated documentary film directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi. The film tells the story of Burnat's journey as a Palestinian shepherd and his involvement in the non-violent resistance movement in Bil'in, a small Palestinian village located in the Occupied Palestinian Territories near the Israeli security barrier. Through the lens of his five broken cameras, Burnat captures the effects of the ongoing conflict in his village and his story of nonviolent resistance over the course of six years. The film raised international awareness of the issues faced by Palestinians living under occupation and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 85th Academy Awards.

From Asghar Farhadi, starring Golshifteh Farahani, Shahab Hosseini, Taraneh Alidoosti, Sajjad Dolati
Rated TV-PG

About Elly is a 2009 Iranian drama film directed by Asghar Farhadi. Set in the Caspian Sea region of northern Iran, the film follows a group of middle-class Iranian friends on a vacation in the countryside. When one of their friends, Elly, goes missing, the group soon discovers a shocking secret about her past which puts them in a difficult situation. As the truth slowly unravels, the relationships between the friends and their understanding of their own morality is tested. With its complex characters, complex narrative and moral ambiguity, About Elly is a powerful and thought-provoking film.

From Majid Majidi, starring Hossein Abedini, Zahra Bahrami, Mohammad Amir Naji, Hossein Mahjoub
Rated PG

Baran is a 2001 Iranian drama film written and directed by Majid Majidi. It tells the story of Lateef, a young Afghan refugee living in Iran who is tasked with the responsibility of building a retaining wall around a construction site. When he falls in love with an Iranian co-worker, Rahmat, he must contend with cultural differences and the hostilities between their respective countries. As the two get to know each other, they must overcome their differences and find a way to be together. The film explores themes of loneliness, displacement, identity, and love in a time of war and violence. At the end, Lateef and Rahmat are reconciled and their love survives despite all the obstacles.

From Abbas Kiarostami, starring Homayoun Ershadi, Abdolrahman Bagheri, Afshin Khorshid Bakhtiari, Safar Ali Moradi
Rated Not Rated

Taste of Cherry is a 1997 Iranian drama film, written and directed by Abbas Kiarostami. The film follows Mr. Badii (Homayon Ershadi), an Iranian man who is depressed and has decided to take his own life. He drives around the outskirts of Tehran, searching for someone to assist him in burying his body after he has committed suicide. Throughout the film, he encounters various people from different backgrounds and beliefs, who each offer their opinion on his plan. Badii eventually finds an Afghan seminarian to undertake his task. The film culminates with an ambiguous ending, prompting the viewer to draw their own conclusions about the events that transpired.

From Asghar Farhadi, starring Taraneh Alidoosti, Shahab Hosseini, Mina Sadati, Babak Karimi
Rated PG-13

The Salesman is a 2016 Iranian drama film written and directed by Asghar Farhadi, starring Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti. It is about a married couple, Emad and Rana, who are forced to move out of their apartment after it is damaged by an earthquake. They eventually move into a new place, but one night when Rana is home alone, an intruder enters and assaults her. After the attack, Emad and Rana’s relationship begins to strain as they both struggle with the aftereffects of the incident. Through a series of flashbacks and various interactions, Emad slowly begins to unravel the identity of the intruder, while trying to come to terms with what happened to Rana. In the end, Emad is faced with the difficult decision of whether to seek revenge or forgive the perpetrator.

From Dror Moreh, starring Ami Ayalon, Avraham Shalom, Avi Dichter, Yaakov Peri
Rated PG-13

The Gatekeepers is a 2012 documentary film from director Dror Moreh and follows the personal stories of six former heads of the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet). Through the film, the directors explore the successes and failures of the agency in protecting and maintaining the security of the state of Israel, as well as the moral implications of their work. The Gatekeepers provides a unique insight into the inner workings of the agency, discussing their successes and failures in preventing terrorism and protecting Israeli citizens, as well as the difficult decisions that come with the job. The film also examines the personal and moral costs of their work and how the agency has changed over the years. The Gatekeepers has won numerous awards and is considered a powerful and important documentary.

From Jafar Panahi, starring Hossain Emadeddin, Kamyar Sheisi, Azita Rayeji, Shahram Vaziri
Rated Unrated