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El Haimoune (Wanderers of the Desert) (12A*) + Introduction

Screening the Sahara

,Cinema 3
A young and an old man sit in a temple conversing, surrounded by lamps and glass jars.

This Sufi tale, directed by Tunisian filmmaker Nacer Khemir and showing in a new restoration, captures the beauty and intrigue of the Sahara through a mystical lens.

El Haimoune is the first part of Nacer Khemir's Desert Trilogy, following the journey of a newly appointed teacher in a village which does not have a school. The village is home to elders, spirits, and children, creating a garden of mirrors in the desert. Fragments of mirrors reflect the beaming sun on the sand as the wanderers who left the village drift on a mystifying quest, accompanied by Andalusian melody.

Folklore and poetry shape villagers' daily lives against splendid traditional architecture. Whispers in the village reveal the weight carried by parents whose children have ventured into the desert due to an enigmatic curse. A site of endless wandering, the spirituality of the Sahara emerges through mesmerising and surreal visuals.

Tagged with: Cinema Screening the Sahara

El Haimoune, Nacer Khemir, 1984, 95 minutes, in French with English subtitles

Cinema 3

Location
Barbican Cinema 2 & 3 are located on Beech Street, a short walk from the Barbican’s Silk Street entrance. From Silk Street, you’ll see a zebra crossing that will take you across the road to the venue. 

Address
Beech Street
London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.