Cultures and conflicts on the screen

Advertiser Staff

Kirron Kher and Quratul Ain star in "Silent Waters," a portrayal of family life when a son is recruited by Islamic fundamentalists.

Shimon Ballas, from an apolitical, lower-class family, grew up in a Christian district of Baghdad. He and others are profiled in "Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs." Both films are part of an Arabic/Iranian/Islamic perspective at the Honolulu Academy of Arts beginning Sunday.

All are subtitled and unrated. Admission is $5 general, $3 museum members. 532-8768.

The films:

"Silent Waters (Khamosh Pani)"; 2003, 95 minutes, Pakistan/France/Germany. Directed by Sabiha Sumar.

In 1979 Pakistan, as Islamic nationalism comes to the fore, a woman's son is recruited by Islamic fundamentalists just as a group of Sikh pilgrims comes to town. A portrait of social and religious conflict.

• 4 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

"Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs"; 2002, 111 minutes, Germany/Switzerland. Directed by Samir.

This documentary looks at the stereotypes of Jews and Arabs in the last 100 years of cinema and also presents the real-life experiences of Arabic Jews and Jewish Arabs.

• 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

"Turtles Can Fly (Lakposhtha Ham Paravaz Mikonand)"; 2004, 95 minutes, Iran/Iraq. Directed by Bahman Ghobadi.

A look at the challenges and horrors of refugee-camp life, set in 2003. This film is Iran's official entry for the 2005 Academy Awards.

• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7; 4 p.m. Jan. 9