Sarim Fassi Fihri Movies

Inspired by the true life case in which fourteen young heavy metal musicians were accused of "shaking the foundations of Islam" and Satanic worship due to their music and their unconventional lifestyles, director Ahmed Boulane's fact-based drama follows the Moroccan rockers as their story makes headlines across the globe, prompting numerous human rights groups to flock to their defense. Speedily convicted in a trial that can best be described as Kafkaesque, the musicians prepare to serve their prison sentences as the press brings their unusual plight to the world and outrage builds throughout Casablanca. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Filmed in France, Hungary, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Morocco, and Canada, this ambitious biographical TV miniseries chronicles the life and times of the "Little Corporal" from Corsica who managed to conquer nearly all of Europe within a period of a dozen years. The narrative begins in the mid-1790s, as Napoleon Bonaparte (played, curiously enough, by comic actor Christian Clavier) makes his mark on posterity with spectacular victories in Austria and Egypt. On the home front, Napoleon woos and wins the lovely (and considerably older) Josephine (Isabella Rossellini), but finds time for extracurricular romances with other women, notably Countess Marie Walewska (Alexandra Maria Lara). Ultimately, Bonaparte's ambitions destroy him, first in Russia, then at Waterloo, consigning the general-cum-emperor to live out his life in humiliation and exile. When originally broadcast in France in October 2002, Napoleon ran six hours (plus commercials), with four episodes. For its American presentation on the A&E cable network beginning April 8, 2003, the production was literally sliced in half, shown in two installments with a running time of three hours. What remained was all highlights and few insights, though a few brilliant moments remained, many of these supplied by the supporting cast, which included Gérard Depardieu (who also produced) as Fouche, and John Malkovich as Talleyrand. Thankfully, the full six-hour version was made available in the U.S. on DVD and VHS in 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

This biblical drama chronicles the life of the mother of Christ. It is shot on location in Northern Africa and follows the scriptures quite closely from the annunciation through the Crucifixion of her beloved son. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi