Middle East Videos in the Primary Source Library

Arabs, Muslims & Islam. 2002. (42 min.)

This unscripted documentary presents a candid look at a day in the life of Muslim teenagers in South Africa, Malaysia, Lebanon, and the United States, exploring their school, social, and family lives.

Baran. Burbank, CA.: Miramax Home Entertainment, 2002. (96 min.)

The story of a young Iranian who finds himself drawn to an illegal Afghan co-worker, whom he later discovers is a young woman posing as a boy to earn money for her family after her father injures himself on the job.

Born Under Libra. Facets, 2000. (95 min.)

This romantic drama made headlines in Iran when its director was kidnapped by arch-conservatives and left to die in the desert (he was later rescued). The story follows two university students who struggle to be together despite differing religious and political beliefs.

Children of Heaven.  Miramax Home Entertainment, 1999. (83 min.)

A young boy, Ali, loses his sister's school shoes. In order to stay out of trouble, the two come up with a plan to share Ali's shoes, but they must keep it a secret from their parents. This movie transcends all cultures by focusing on the humanity of the children.

Control Room. Santa Monica, CA: Artisan Home Entertainment, 2004. (86 min.)

A window into the international perception of the Iraq War, as reported by Al Jazeera, the Arab world’s most popular news outlet.

Destination The Middle East Collection. (240 min.)

This two-disc collection contains four shows, including "The Arab Gulf States," "Syria," "Jordan and Lebanon," "Israel & the Sinai Desert," and a short history special. Viewers witness cultural events from various countries thereby giving them a better sense of daily life and customs.

The Hajj: One American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca. MPI Home Video, 2004. (22 min.)

Michael Wolfe, an American Muslim, describes the experience of his hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

Hell of a Nation. New York: WNET, 2004. (57 min.)
Videocassette release of a program broadcast on the PBS television series Wide Angle on September 9, 2004. As Afghanistan struggled to adopt a new constitution, Wide Angle filmed behind the scenes at the December 2003 loya jirga. The documentary profiles two aspiring Afghan delegates who face political opposition and physical intimidation as they risk their lives to participate in the future of their country.

Inside Mecca. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2003. (60 min.)

Witness the personal stories of the pilgrims and the mental preparation, physical strain, and spiritual ecstasy they encounter on their pilgrimage of faith.

Islam. Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities and Science, 2001.  (56 min.)

Hans Kung maps out the history of Islam, from its origin to the present day.

Islam, Empire of Faith.  Baltimore, MD; Alexandria, VA: Gardner Films; distributed by PBS Home Video, [2002]. (2 dvds, 180 min.)

Documents the rise and growth of Islam throughout the world, from the birth of Prophet Muhammad in the 6th century through the peak of the Ottoman Empire 1000 years later. Discusses the impact of Islamic civilization on world history and culture.

The Islamic Wave. Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities and Science, 2000. (50 min.)

This documentary focuses on the growth of the Muslim religion around the world with a focus on it and its leaders in the Middle East, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the Sudan.

Kandahar. New York: New Yorker Video, 2003. (85 min.)

Inspired by the true story of a woman’s attempt to enter Afghanistan, this film tells the story of a woman trying to return to the war-torn nation to save her sister who has threatened to commit suicide. As the woman searches for her sister, she soon gets a clear and disturbing portrait of the toll the Taliban regime has taken upon its people.

Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet.  [s.l.]: Kikim Media, 2002. (116 min.)

Three years in the making, the film takes viewers not only to ancient Middle Eastern sites where Muhammad's story unfolds, but into the homes, mosques and workplaces of some of America's estimated seven million Muslims to discover the many ways in which they follow Muhammad's example.

Muslims.  New York: Wellspring Media, 2003.  (120 min.)

A look at what it means to be a Muslim in the 21st century. Filmed in Egypt, Malaysia, Iran, Turkey, Nigeria, and the U.S., this program explores the influence of culture and politics on religion, and examines the diverse interpretations of Islam among the Muslim people.

Osama. MGM, 2004. (82 min.)

A 12-year-old Afghan girl and her mother lose their jobs when the Taliban closes the hospital where they work. The woman disguises her daughter as a boy, and the girl embarks on a terrifying journey as she tries to keep the Taliban from finding out her true identity. Inspired by a true story, Osama is the first entirely Afghan film shot since the fall of the Taliban.

Promises.  Berkeley, CA: Promises Film Project, 2001, 2004.  (106 min.)

The film follows the journey of filmmaker and Israeli-American B.Z. Goldberg as he travels to Palestinian communities and settlements in the West Bank, places he had never ventured before, and to the familiar neighborhoods of Jerusalem. He meets seven Palestinian and Israeli children between the ages of nine and thirteen and explores the Middle East conflict through their eyes.

The Wisdom of Faith: Confucianism.  Princeton, NJ: Newbridge Communications, 1996.

(58 min.)

Huston Smith relates his experiences with the world's greatest religions and attempts to show how these "wisdom traditions" share fundamental truths. In this tape, Asian religion scholar Smith, explores the spiritual traditions amongst which he grew up and his adult studies of South Asian spiritual practices. Good background information.