Winner! - Locarno International Film Festival Winner! Best Artistic Contribution and Best Screenplay - Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film While studying Arabic calligraphy with a grand master, Hassan comes across a fragment of rare manuscript. He sets off in search of the missing pieces, believing that once he finds them, they will reveal all the secrets of love. With the help of a lovers' go-between, Hassan meets the beautiful Aziz, Princess of Samarkand, who aids him in his search. The two encounter wars, a battle between false prophets, and face an ancient curse in their hunt for the missing manuscript. As the answers Hassan seeks become ever more elusive and complex, he begins to suspect that an entire lifetime would not suffice to learn the infinite dimensions of love. Tunisian director Nacer Khemir, also a poet, painter and professional storyteller, notes: The film takes place in Moslem Andalusia of the 11th century. But it's not a question of reconstituting a given time and place, but rather of summoning up the reflection of a forgotten garden, and out of a yearning for peace, so difficult to protect from barbarians and from destructive fanaticisms. Andalusia has been the meeting place of many cultures, a living dialog of the peoples and religions whose traces can still be deciphered in texts, music and gardens all the way from the Atlantic to the Red Sea. This is not an Andalusian love story, but Andalusia as the very essence of love, through its perfumes, poetry and gardens. DVD Features: Full Frame 1.33:1 Typecast Trailers Audio: Arabic Subtitles: English |
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13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Very NiceMay 27, 2008
By Solomon Ness
"Solomon Ness"
The second part of Nacer Khemir's Desert Trilogy is more satisfying than the first instalment "Wanderer's of the Desert". It's more colourful than it's predecessor and easier to follow. The arabic spoken is classical as opposed to the strong Tunisian accent of Wanderers. I think that non-arabs might find the love sick student a bit over the top but it makes lots of sense in a Middle Eastern context and the over-emphasis on love, especially, Divine love was something prevalent in Islamic society at those times. I kind of slightly lost my bearing on the story towards the 3rd act but it was still nice to watch. 4 Stars because there were no Extra Features on the DVD. Director's Commentary please!
Extraordinary Sublime Message!Jan 16, 2012
By Lector The story of a man who finally found the real "love". To understant the real message of this movie, you should know the story of Layla and Majnun.
Very nice filmDec 31, 2011
By Booklearner
"J.A."
I've been searching for this film for a long time - Navin Chowdhry offers the right flavor to this story as a young man looking to the written word for the meaning of love. Unanswered questions and adventures overlap throughout the story until the end, when it appears he realizes what he has gained most is experience which he can use to determine for himself. Even though there is death and destruction in this story, it is so beautifully portrayed that what I gained was a better meaning of life.
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