Cruel Sea (1972)
"Bas ya Bahar" (original title)

The first feature film to be made by the state of Kuwait. It is a period piece about Kuwait before the discovery of oil when fishing was the predominant occupation. Bay Ya Bahr is the story... See full summary »

Director:

Khalid Al Siddiq

Writers:

Khalid Al Siddiq, Saad Al-Faraj,

Stars:

Mohammed Al-Mansour, Amal Bakr, Saad Al-Faraj

Cast

Cast overview:
Mohammed Al-Mansour	...	Moussaed
Amal Bakr	...	Nura
Saad Al-Faraj	...	Father
Hayat El-Fahad	...	Mother

Storyline

The first feature film to be made by the state of Kuwait. It is a period piece about Kuwait before the discovery of oil when fishing was the predominant occupation. Bay Ya Bahr is the story of a crippled pearl diver who forbids his son Mussaid to go to sea to dive for pearls. Mussaid's father got the 'bends' after resurfacing too fast during a shark attack on his boat. However, the boy cannot see any other way to make enough money to mary Nura, his beloved. Nura is the daughter of a merchant who wants her to marry for money. Finally, his father gives Mussaid permission to go to sea and even gives him his special black diving suit. Mussaid then works with the man to whom his father owes money. While Mussaid is away, Nura is forced by her family to marry a rich, older suitor. During his last dive Mussaid puts his hand inside a huge clam which closes on it. Mussaid is gasping for air and his friend has to amputate his arm in order to 'rescue' him. However Mussaid was dead long before he ...

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Plot Keywords:

pearl in oyster | tragedy | pearl diving

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Kuwait

Language:

Arabic

Release Date:

11 March 1976 (Hungary)

Also Known As:

Cruel Sea

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

User Reviews

An early example of the new wave of Arab realism .

This is the first film ever known to have been made in Kuwait, and it tells quite a dramatic tale. The young son of an impoverished pearl diver has been forbidden to go to sea, because his father was crippled by a shark years before and does not want his son to suffer a similar fate. The boy is in love with a merchant's daughter, but her parents mean to see her married into a wealthy family. The boy's father, worn down by his persistent requests, permits him to go to sea. While the boy is at sea, the girl's parents have her marry a rich old man, though this is very much against the girl's wishes. Still unaware of his beloved's fate, the boy begins to work solo in order to keep more of his earnings. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

• MY COMMENT -

1st , It's really great feelings , that I will be the first person who add a comment to this movie , and the greatest thing , I am from the same country " Kuwait "

(( magnum opus of Khalid AL-Siddiq ! ))

yeah this is the first kuwaiti feature film , that consider it the masterpiece of all arabian gulf movies ... add to that , in fact it's the first feature film that appeared in these country ( arabian gulf countries ) and became a BIG famous film from my small country !

The classic kuwaiti feature film won the grand prize from the three countries festival .

The director of this masterpiece used the camera techniques under the sea at the first time in the arabic cinematic history ( production's year ) An early example of the new wave of Arab realism and the sincerity of the performance , which gave this movie all creativity whereby crowned over all kuwaiti movies !

The director " Khalid AL-Siddiq " made another two films after his masterpiece ( Bas ya Bahar )

SHAHEEN ( 1986 ) Directed by : Khalid AL-Siddiq, Screenplay : Khalid AL-Siddiq & John Holt , Runtime: 120 min , Country: Kuwait , Language: Arabic , Color , Sound Mix: Mono , Credited cast: , Khalid EL-Harbi, Majdi Wahbah, Eghraa, Taibe Khan .

AL-ZAIN WEDDING ( 1982 ) Directed by : Khalid AL-Siddiq, Novel by : AL-Taibe Saleh, Runtime: 90 min, Country: Kuwait, Language: Arabic , Color , Sound Mix: Mono , Credited cast: , Ali Mahdi, Gumiah Zouraq, Mohammed Khairi, Ibrahim Hujazi .