Day of the Falcon | |
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Theatrical Poster
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Directed by | Jean-Jacques Annaud |
Produced by | Tarak Ben Ammar |
Screenplay by | Jean-Jacques Annaud Menno Meyjes Alain Godard |
Based on |
South of the Heart: A Novel of Modern Arabia by Hans Ruesch |
Starring |
Tahar Rahim Mark Strong Antonio Banderas Freida Pinto Riz Ahmed Corey Johnson Liya Kebede |
Music by | James Horner |
Cinematography | Jean-Marie Dreujou |
Edited by | Hervé Schneid |
Production
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Distributed by | Image Entertainment |
Release date
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Running time
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130 mins |
Country |
Tunisia France Italy Qatar |
Language | English |
Budget | $40 million |
Box office | $5.5 million |
Not to be confused with Black Gold (2011 Nigerian film)
Black Gold (also known as Day of the Falcon and Or noir) is a 2011 Qatari-French-Italian-Tunisian epic historical war film, based on Hans Ruesch's 1957 novel South of the Heart: A Novel of Modern Arabia (also known as The Great Thirst and The Arab), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. It was produced by Tarak Ben Ammar and co-produced by Doha Film Institute, Qatar. The film stars Akin Gazi, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto, Mark Strong, Riz Ahmed and Tahar Rahim.
The film had a budget of US$40 million, making it one of the most expensive films backed by an Arab about an Arab subject.
In the early 20th century, Emir Nesib (Antonio Banderas), Sultan of Hobeika, and Sultan Amar (Mark Strong) of Salmaah have been in a border war over a vast barren strip they call "The Yellow Belt". When Nesib wins he forces Amar to agree to a peace pact: the Yellow Belt will belong to neither, becoming a no-mans-land between their territories, and Emir Nesib will take Sultan Amar's sons, Saleh and Auda, as hostages. Amar reluctantly agrees, knowing the hostages are a sacred trust which binds Nesib as well. They both swear to the pact before God. Nesib promises to rear Amar's sons with his own children, Tariq and Leyla.
Saleh, Amar's eldest son, is a free spirit interested in the traditional pursuits of an Arab emir, while Auda is a dedicated bookworm. Leyla and Auda become good friends, until they are separated at adolescence. Ten years pass. Auda (Tahar Rahim) is still a bookworm, while Saleh (Akin Gazi) longs to go home and be with his father.