Nacer Khemir is an award-winning Tunisian filmmaker whose works include “Wanderers of the Desert,” which was awarded the Grand Prix of the Festival des Trois Continents; “The Dove’s Lost Necklace,” which won the Special Jury Prize at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival in 1991; and, most recently, “Bab ’Aziz.” We are delighted to be able to bring you the director in person and all three of his most famous films, known as the Desert Triology, including “Bab ’Aziz” on Saturday and the other two on Sunday. Nacer Khemir will introduce his films and will answer questions following the showings on both days.
Note: Tickets for all films are available to the general public.
Saturday Evening, November 7
8:00 – 10:00 pm
Location: Columbia University's Altschul Auditorium, School of International and Public Affairs, 420 West 118th Street (at street level, off Amsterdam Avenue)
Film and Q&A with Director Nacer Khemir
“Bab ’Aziz: The Prince Who Contemplated His Soul”
A visual poem of incomparable beauty, this masterpiece presents a radically different view of Islamic culture than the one usually depicted in our media. Filmed in Tunisia and Iran and filled with breathtaking images, this profound fairytale shows us the tolerant, friendly, and loving aspects of open-hearted desert dwellers and their ancient storytelling traditions. (96 minutes)
09SSS15P
One Film: $9
(Included in conference fee. Also open to the general public.)
(For non-conference attendees)
Note: There will be a French-English translator present for interpreting audience questions and the director’s answers.
Sunday, November 8
1:00 – 5:00 pm
Location: Columbia University's Altschul Auditorium, School of International and Public Affairs, 420 West 118th Street (at street level, off Amsterdam Avenue)
Two Films and Q&A with Director Nacer Khemir
“Wanderers of the Desert”
This gentle, lyrical drama about a new teacher’s arrival in a village school in the middle of the desert combines realistic slice-of-life portraits of the day-to-day in the Middle East with startling fantasy and mythical elements that pull from centuries of indigenous lore and legends to give the story a shimmering magical realist quality. (95 minutes)
“The Dove’s Lost Necklace”
This fairy tale includes a young man, an ancient manuscript that may hold the secrets of love, a monkey who may be an enchanted prince, wars, false prophets, ancient curses, and a beautiful princess from Samarkand. (90 minutes)
Q&A with Director at 4:30 pm
09SSS16P
Two Films: $18
(Not included in conference fee. Open to the general public.)
09SSS19P
All Three Films: $24
(Open to the general public; $24 price includes a ticket to the Saturday night film screening of "Bab'Aziz" for non-conference attendees.)
Note: There will be a French-English translator present for interpreting audience questions and the director’s answers.
Conference speakers interviewed on WBAI-FM
Abundant Faith, Shrinking Space
Events: From The Ibn ’Arabi Society
