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In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

Bit of an off-topic question, but a light-hearted one at that. Posts here can get a bit heavy, at times.

Is there a film, song or book that you think either is a reflection of your time in Saudi or what you think Saudi Arabia / the Middle East is represented by? I have my idea but I don't want to abruptly add my bias, but I will say later on, I promise.

Kimchidon · Joined: 25 Aug 2015 Posts: 19

Is Lawrence of Arabia too obvious a choice?

And as for music, from what it sounds like, I'd nominate John Cale's "4:33"

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

LofA is one of my favourites and definitely not too obvious, never hear of your song choice but will listen as soon as my internet is fast enough again

In the heat of the moment · Joined: 22 May 2015 Posts: 393 Location: Italy

John Cale's "4:33" was a bit too dull, even though life here isn't as exciting as it could be..

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"Dune" was written by an American who worked at Aramco, and was supposedly inspired by KSA in the 1950s.

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

There is the delightful film ' WADJDA' (2012) which is the first feature-length film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia by a female Saudi director, Haifaa al-Mansour.

It is the story of an 11 year old girl living in the suburbs of Riyadh. It was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the 2014 Bafta awards.

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

I liked Wadjda but if I hadn't lived here probably wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Anyone else read A Hologram for the King?

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:29 pm Post subject:

Not a reflection of my time as such, but 'Girls of Riyadh' was okay.

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

bigdurian · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:35 pm Post subject:

yeah, it's obviously not a reflection of what all women are like, because the main characters all come from quite wealthy families, but as an indication of the way that some people are I thought it was a good read.

I remember at the end the author explains what the Arabic in the male love interests' names mean, which is quite amusing.

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

Death of a princess.

gregory999 · Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 372 Location: 999

1. Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists and the Struggle for Saudi Arabia.

2. Kingdom of Strangers.

3. Inside The Kingdom: My Life In Saudi Arabia.

Gerund · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 80 Location: Amerika

If I Only Had a Brain

MixtecaMike · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 643 Location: Guatebad

Cities of Salt, The Trench, Variations on Night and Day

Captain Willard · Joined: 11 Sep 2010 Posts: 251

KSA does not need a a film, song or book. It only needs one word: wasta. Everything else is unnecessary to the locals. Wasta is essential.