The Desert Ark

The Desert Ark

87 mins | Drama | Jan. 28, 1998

The Desert Ark (L'Arche du Desert), a variation on Romeo and Juliet set in the Algerian desert. A young couple must face inevitable conflict when their rival families discover their secret love. Taking refuge in a cave, they listen to the sounds of a senseless campaign of violence and murder, which is the culmination of the extremism that has long divided their two communities. Nominated for the Golden Leopard at the 1997 Locarno Film Festival.

The Desert Ark

87 mins | Drama | Jan. 28, 1998

The Desert Ark
The Desert Ark (L'Arche du Desert), a variation on Romeo and Juliet set in the Algerian desert. A young couple must face inevitable conflict when their rival families discover their secret love. Taking refuge in a cave, they listen to the sounds of a senseless campaign of violence and murder, which is the culmination of the extremism that has long divided their two communities. Nominated for the Golden Leopard at the 1997 Locarno Film Festival.
Producers Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée
Original title L'Arche du Désert
Directors Halim Sahraoui, Mohamed Chouikh
Writers Djamila Benferhat, Mohamed Chouikh

Cast

Myriam Aouffen

as Myriam

Abdelkader Belmokadem

as Wise Omar

Hacen Abdou

as Amin

Messaouda Adami

as Houria du Ksar

Shyraz Aliane

as Cousine

Amin Chouikh

as Child

Hamdou Djaballah

as Musician

Hassan Kechache

as Uncle

Lynda Fares

as Myriam's aunt

Abdelrahim Bouzine

as Musician

Mustapha Boudoya

as Amin's friend

Bahous Bouhafs

as Beggar

Ali Bensaïb

as El Moutanabi

Abdelkrime Bencheikh

as Amin's brother