Arack El-Balah


1h 51m 1998

Brief Synopsis

One day, a caravan of mysterious bikers arrives in a small Egyptian village, and lures all the men away with promises of wealth in the outside world. Yougn Ahmed stays on, and begins a passionate affair with his cousin Salma. He grows to be a man, and leads the village into a more modern and open wa

Film Details

Also Known As
Arak El-Balah, Date Wine, La Sueur des palmiers, Sueur des palmiers, La, Sweat of the Palm Trees, The
Genre
Drama
Release Date
1998

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 51m

Synopsis

One day, a caravan of mysterious bikers arrives in a small Egyptian village, and lures all the men away with promises of wealth in the outside world. Yougn Ahmed stays on, and begins a passionate affair with his cousin Salma. He grows to be a man, and leads the village into a more modern and open way of life. Then the menfolk return, having failed to become rich in the world, and try to impose traditional values as a repudiation of their failure. But the society they have left has moved on without them thanks to Ahmed.

Film Details

Also Known As
Arak El-Balah, Date Wine, La Sueur des palmiers, Sueur des palmiers, La, Sweat of the Palm Trees, The
Genre
Drama
Release Date
1998

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 51m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Winner of the Jury's Second Prize at the 1998 Carthage Film Festival of Arab and African Cinema.

Released in United States 1999

Released in United States August 1998

Released in United States October 1998

Shown at Carthage Film Festival of Arab and African Cinema in Carthage, Tunisia October 23-31, 1998.

Shown at Locarno International Film Festival (in competition) August 5-15, 1998.

Shown at Rotterdam International Film Festival January 27 - February 7, 1999.

Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) May 13 - June 6, 1999.

Sophomore feature for director Radwan el-Kashef.

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Rotterdam International Film Festival January 27 - February 7, 1999.)

Released in United States 1999 (Shown at Seattle International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) May 13 - June 6, 1999.)

Released in United States August 1998 (Shown at Locarno International Film Festival (in competition) August 5-15, 1998.)

Released in United States October 1998 (Shown at Carthage Film Festival of Arab and African Cinema in Carthage, Tunisia October 23-31, 1998.)