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IMDbPro

Destiny

Original title: Al-massir
  • 19971997
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Khaled Nabawy and Nour El-Sherif in Destiny (1997)
ComedyDramaHistory
The story is set in the 12th century in Arab-ruled Spanish province Andalusia, where famed philosopher Averroes is appointed grand judge by the caliph and his liberal court judgments are not... Read allThe story is set in the 12th century in Arab-ruled Spanish province Andalusia, where famed philosopher Averroes is appointed grand judge by the caliph and his liberal court judgments are not liked by everyone. The caliph's political rivals, centered around the leader of a fanatic... Read allThe story is set in the 12th century in Arab-ruled Spanish province Andalusia, where famed philosopher Averroes is appointed grand judge by the caliph and his liberal court judgments are not liked by everyone. The caliph's political rivals, centered around the leader of a fanatical Islamic sect, force the caliph to send Averroes into exile, but his ideas keep on livin... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
3K
YOUR RATING
    • Youssef Chahine
    • Khairiya A-Mansour(co-director)
    • Youssef Chahine
    • Khaled Youssef
  • Stars
    • Nour El-Sherif
    • Layla Olwi
    • Mahmoud Hemida
    • Youssef Chahine
    • Khairiya A-Mansour(co-director)
    • Youssef Chahine
    • Khaled Youssef
  • Stars
    • Nour El-Sherif
    • Layla Olwi
    • Mahmoud Hemida
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos30

    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)
    Destiny (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nour El-Sherif
    Nour El-Sherif
    • Averroes
    • (as Nour El Cherif)
    Layla Olwi
    Layla Olwi
    • The gypsy woman
    Mahmoud Hemida
    Mahmoud Hemida
    • Al Mansour, The Caliph
    • (as Mahmoud Hemeida)
    Safia El Emari
    Safia El Emari
    • Averroes' Wife
    • (as Safia El Emary)
    Mohamed Mounir
    • The Bard
    Khaled Nabawy
    Khaled Nabawy
    • Nasser, The Crown Prince
    • (as Khaled El Nabaoui)
    Seif Abdelrahman
    Seif Abdelrahman
    • The Caliph's Brother
    • (as Seif Abdel Rahman)
    Abdalla Mahmoud
    Abdalla Mahmoud
    • Borhan
    Ahmed Fouad Selim
    • Cheikh Riad
    Rogeena
    • Salma
    • (as Regina)
    Magdy Edris
    • Emir of the Sect
    • (as Magdi Idris)
    Ahmed Moukhtar
    • Bard
    Sherifa Maher
    • Manuella's Mother
    Rayek Azzab
    • El Razi
    Hasan El-Adl
    • Gaafar
    Hani Salama
    Hani Salama
    • Abdellah
    Faris Rahoma
    • Youssef
    Mohamed Malas
      • Youssef Chahine
      • Khairiya A-Mansour(co-director)
      • Youssef Chahine
      • Khaled Youssef
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to an interview actor Nour El-Sherif stated that the role of Ibn Roshd was supposed to be played by director Youssef Chahine himself, but Nour told him that he was not suitable for the role.
    • Quotes

      Caliph's brother: Thoughts have wings. No one can prevent them from flying.

    • Connections
      Featured in Humbert Balsan, producteur rebelle (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Alli sotak
      and "Gamr el Hawa", words by Sameh El Kodoussi and Kawssar Mostapha, music by Kamal El Tawil

      Performed by Mohamed Mounir

    User reviews15

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Brave, exuberant filmmaking
    Americans and Europeans should treat themselves to the courageous joy of this infectious film, if you can find it. If you're looking for Latcho Drom with a great story, this is it!

    Destiny is singularly beautiful in that it celebrates humanist passions and ideas as they were once allowed to be expressed in the Islamic culture of 12th century Spain. The Egyptian director Youssef Chahine ventures this anti-fundamentalist statement in a contemporary cultural climate where fundamentalism is on the rise. It exposes the street fascism and subtle eroticism that seduces young men into such sects.

    Destiny is exuberant. It has humor, music, dancing, free thinking dialogue, intriguing sets and architecture and, most of all, the ensemble portrayal of a joyful philosophic community whose members you can really grow to love. All the earthly things fundamentalists detest!

    Chahine deserves a larger world audience, by virtue of his bravery and outspoken-ness. He argues at risk of his own life in this film. If Akira Kurosawa could be embraced so wholeheartedly by the international community, so should Chahine. This film is a landmark. I hope financing from our part of the world will find its way to him. He has guts and passion.

    The film itself is like nothing else you will see made on these shores. It is emotionally unabashed. Our western ideals of coolness and hipness restrict many of our directors and actors. Passion is too often reserved for climactic moments, and commonly those moments are angry intimidation or vengeance scenes sparked by the Pacino clones of the world. Much of the actor's job is running and posing. In Destiny, the actors are not posing - they are joyfully uninhibited and alive!

    Recommended highly!! Vigorous entertainment. Brave ideas. Exotic sets. Bold, hand-hewn directorial craftsmanship. Great true story. And your only chance to see 12th century Andalusian culture come alive!
    helpful•12
    2
    • claude-18
    • Mar 17, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 1998 (United States)
      • France
      • Egypt
      • French
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Krak des Chevaliers, Syria
    • Production companies
      • Canal+
      • Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)
      • Fonds Sud Cinéma
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 15 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby
      • Dolby SR

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