Movies About the Muslim World

I should have added this category to my Entertainment 09 Review: "Favorite films about the Muslim world."

Last year I saw three remarkable movies, all set in the Muslim world and with Muslim protagonists: Slumdog Millionaire, Persepolis, and The Kite Runner.

Set among the Muslims of India, Slumdog Millionaire (2008) was a interesting tale told in an interesting way. It's not Citizen Kane but it was easily my favorite movie of the year. I like to root for a movie and this one makes it easy. A lot of people didn't like how India was portrayed in the film but a lot of real children suffer in a lot of countries and this story could have been told in our country a few generations ago.

Set in 1980's Iran, Persepolis (2007) is not your average animated film. It's a French-speaking cartoon based on a very serious memoir of a girl who grew up in Iran but suffers the ills of being drawn to Western culture. A little shocking at times, it's still fascinating.

Set in Afghanistan before and during the reign of the Taliban, The Kite Runner (2008) is based on the best selling book. It tells the story of an Afghan boy who grows up and leaves Afghanistan for America, leaving behind his boyhood friend. The movie does a good job of showing cultural differences, both within Afghanistan and in contrast to the West.