DUBAI: Our pick of the most influential films from the Golden Age of Arab cinema will help you decide what classic movie you are going to watch this week. So grab your popcorn, turn off your phone and take your pick.
“Doa Al-Karawan”
(The Nightingale’s Prayer)
The prolific Henry Barakat directs this adaptation of acclaimed writer Taha Hussein’s 1934 novel. The compelling, claustrophobic tale follows illiterate housekeeper Amna (Faten Hamama) as she tries to get revenge on ‘The Engineer’ (Ahmad Mazhar) who has seduced her sister and ruined her reputation.
“Al-Ard”
(The Land)
This 1969 adaptation of Abdel Rahman Al-Sharqawi’s novel, directed by Youseff Chahin, follows the struggle of a rural village in the 1930s against local authorities who are set to reduce its already meager water supply. A hard-hitting early examination of people-power that still resonates today.
“Nahr El-Hub”
(The River of Love)
Ezzel Dine Zulficar’s 1961 adaptation of “Anna Karenina” features the ‘First Couple’ of Egyptian cinema — Omar Sharif and Faten Hamama — in their last film together before their divorce. Hamama plays country girl Nawal, who is married off to a wealthy aristocrat but falls for army officer Khaled (Sharif). The couple’s real-life chemistry gives the movie an extra charge.
“Imm El-Arousa”
(Mother of the Bride)
Atef Salem’s 1964 comedy classic stars legendary Egyptian actors Tahiya Karioka and Emad Hamdi as Zeinab and Hussein — hardworking parents struggling to raise seven kids while arranging their eldest daughter’s upcoming wedding. And finding inventive ways to raise the necessary funds.
“Al-Mummia”
(The Mummy)
Ranked among Egyptian cinema’s greatest films, Shadi Abdel Salam’s 1969 movie is loosely based on the true story of the Abd El-Rasuls, a clan of grave robbers and black-market traders. It’s a thoughtful reflection on Egyptian identity which — like many on this list — hints at the tensions between rural and urban life.
“Khally Ballak Min ZouZou”
(Watch Out For ZouZou)
Starring Egyptian cinema icons Soad Hosny, Hussein Fahmy and Taheya Cariocca, Hassan Al Imam’s 1972 film — a perennial favorite in Egyptian households — tells the story of a college professor who falls in lust with a student. His fiancée decides to expose said student’s “shameful secret” — she was a dancer! — in an attempt to ruin her. Al Imam explored the friction between Egypt’s modernist urges and its conservative traditions.
The six most influential films from the Golden Age of Arab cinema
The six most influential films from the Golden Age of Arab cinema
- Celebrate the heyday of Arab cinema with these timeless classics
- From tragedies to comedies, these films are iconic and loved across the Arab world
Perfect plays: The best video games of 2025
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
This modern take on a classic RPG is like nothing that’s come before. Its painterly world, time-haunted premise and inventive turn-based combat feel both nostalgic and daringly new, marryingFrench surrealism with emotional storytelling, and using mortality as its beating heart. Few games this year balanced mechanical depth and philosophical weight so gracefully, nor left such a lasting impression. Come for the story, stay for the beautifully realized characters.
Ghost of Yotei
A sumptuous, beautifully directed open-world samurai epic. Each scene looks like a classical painting and feels weighty. Protagonist Atsu is unapologetically vengeful and so much fun to play, brought to life by a compelling performance from Erika Ishii. The story is simple, but the combat is brutal and rewarding, remaining challenging deep into the game. “Yotei” is confident, elegant and gives you plenty of bang for your buck.
Mario Kart World
There was no way Nintendo would launch the Switch 2 without a new Mario game, and “Mario Kart World” — which allows up to 24 players to compete at once — proved the perfect choice. Building on everything fans love about the long-running franchise, the latest entry raises the stakes with expansive open-world tracks, off-roading mechanics and an elimination mode that keeps every race unpredictable. More than 30 years after its debut, “Mario Kart” remains the undisputed gold standard for fun.
Dispatch
The latest episodic game from AdHoc Studio delivers is a confident, character-driven superhero story with a twist: it’s a workplace comedy. Ex-superhero Robert Robertson III (voiced by an excellent Aaron Paul) is navigating his new life working at the Superhero Dispatch Network. Strategic decision-making, clever mini-games and sharp writing anchor the experience. While it takes time to fully find its footing, strong performances and witty dialogue make it a satisfying narrative adventure.
Split Fiction
Developer Hazelight Studios took everything they learned from the excellent two-player co-op “It Takes Two” and poured it into the even-more perfect “Split Fiction.” Two writers — one rooted in sci-fi, the other in fantasy — are trapped inside a simulation built from their imagined worlds. The idea is so cleverly executed, giving rise to wildly inventive sequences. Each game mechanic reinforces its themes of authorship, compromise and creative conflict.
Hades II
“Hades II” is that rare sequel that actually improves on the original, going deeper and darker for a compulsively playable experience. The game is still built around pushing as far as you can through a dungeon’s branching paths before death sends you back to the start, but with a new protagonist and two opposing routes: Mount Olympus or Tartarus. With stunning art and a gorgeous soundtrack, this is a game you’ll keep coming back to.
