The Thousand and One Nights: A Historical Perspective

Encompassing fairy tales, romances, legends, fables, parables, and anecdotes, The Thousand and One Nights is a composite of popular oral stories that developed over several centuries, mainly during the Empire of the Caliphate.

This program scrutinizes the wonderfully audacious tale of Scheherazade and what it tells the attentive reader about the dreams of Arab men and women during the empire’s golden age. Recurring themes such as a hunger for adventure and a desire to be free from tradition are explored, as well as a conception of power that glorifies self-control and disparages violence.

Part nine of When the World Spoke Arabic, produced by Fit Production / La Cinquieme, 1999.
In English. Portions in French with English subtitles. Running time: 27 minutes.