“Heiny Srour’s Leila and the Wolves (1984) is a film of monumental resolve and ambition, determined to address the contradictions within the anti-colonial struggle. It tells the forgotten and repressed stories of Arab women throughout the 20th century, fighting against British and Zionist colonialism, but also against male chauvinism, whether at home or on the battlefield.” – Celluloid Liberation Front, MUBI Notebook

Drawing on the Arab heritage of the ‘Arabian Nights’, LEILA AND THE WOLVES combines fictional drama, archival footage, fantasy sequences, mosaic pattern, to refute the colonial and male-dominated version of history. In this “feminist masterwork” (The Guardian) from director Heiny Srour, Leila travels across time and space to explore the collective memory of Arab women in Palestine and Lebanon and their hidden role in historical events. A legendary work of militant resistance filmmaking, LEILA AND THE WOLVES was suppressed in the West, receiving a U.S. theatrical release for the first time just last year. Arkadin enthusiastically presents the St. Louis premiere of this vital and very timely film.

This screening is free. No tickets required. We will be collecting donations for Palestine Children’s Relief Fund at the door. If you can’t make it, we encourage you to donate through PCRF’s website.

Arkadin does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. However, we encourage researching titles to determine if a screening may contain content that could be upsetting to you. Please feel free to contact us for guidance on specific films. Information about content can also be found on Common Sense Media, IMDB and DoesTheDogDie.com, as well as through general internet searches.