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Muslim Journeys: Films

Bridging Cultures Bookshelf

This guide was created to accompany the Muslim Journeys Bridging Cultures Bookshelf exhibit and events during 2013-2014.  They contents are not currently being updated, other than maintaining links.  We hope you enjoy the information within!

Koran by Heart

Koran by Heart cover80 Minutes / Closed Captioned / ©2011 Home Box Office

In this 80-minute documentary, three 10-year old children leave their native countries to participate in one of the Islamic world's most famous competitions, a test of memory and recitation known as The International Holy Koran Competition. As the competition reaches its climax, Koran By Heart offers a compelling and nuanced glimpse into some of the pressures faced by the next generation of Muslims.

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World

Islamic Art cover90 min. / Widescreen / Closed Captioned / ©2011

A ninety-minute documentary of stunning breadth and beauty, Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World transports viewers of nine countries and across 1,400 years of cultural history to reveal the astonishing riches of Muslim arts, crafts, and architecture. Exploring distant locations and many rare pieces of art, the film illuminates the history of a global culture, reflecting the Islamic world as it developed over centuries and as it is today.

Prince Among Slaves

Prince Among Slaves cover60 min. / Widescreen / Closed Captioned / ©2008

In 1788, the slave ship Africa set sail from the Gambia River, its hold laden with a profitable but highly perishable cargo--hundreds of men, women and children bound in chains--headed for American shores. Eight months later, a handful of survivors found themselves for sale in Natchez, Mississippi. One of them, a 26-year-old named Abdul Rahman, made an astonishing claim: that he was a prince of an African kingdom larger and more developed than the newly formed United States. Prince Among Slaves is the remarkable true story of an African prince, who endured the humiliation of slavery without ever losing his dignity or hope for freedom.

Other Films on Islam

Selected from our DVD, VHS, and online video collections.  A full list can be found here.

Islamic Art Spots

The Islamic Art Spots are seven visual essays, presented in a series of short films designed to make art from Muslim societies an integral part of the Muslim Journeys experience.  The Art Spots were written and presented by D. Fairchild Ruggles, Professor of Art, Architecture, and Landscape History, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.  Each film is approximately 10 minutes long.