Arabian Nights

Synopsis: In this film inspired by the ancient erotic and mysterious tales of Mid-West Asia, the main story concerns an innocent young man who comes to fall in love with a slave who selected him as her master. After his foolish error causes their separation, he travels in search of her. Various other travelers who recount their own tragic and romantic experiences include stories of a young man who becomes enraptured by a mysterious woman on his wedding day, and a man who is determined to free a woman from a demon.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Director(s): Pier Paolo Pasolini
Production: United Artists
  1 win & 3 nominations.
 
IMDB:
6.8
Rotten Tomatoes:
80%
NC-17
Year:
1974
130 min
412 Views


ARABIAN NIGHTS:

Truth lies not in one dream,

but in many dreams.

Who will bid for this slave,

the Lady of Moons?

She will give the best massages

you've ever had:

Head massages to bring sweet sleep,

leg massages

to make you skip like a goat.

As the poet says:

"The masseuse is worth

more than all wise men.

"She tends to the heads of kings."

- Five hundred dinars!

- Six hundred!

Seven hundred!

Did you hear, Lady of Moons?

Seven hundred dinars!

- Shall he own you?

- I don't want a monkey-beard!

I'll take her. Eight hundred!

You're no good,

God has only given you one eye!

How dare you!

You let her do that?

I can't help it.

Her owner has given her

the right to choose her buyer.

One thousand!

What an offer!

Will you accept this old man

as your owner, Zumurrud?

You have a soft candle in your pants.

It rises when you sleep,

and sleeps when you rise!

God pity whoever lies with you!

How dare you bring a slave here

who ridicules us so brazenly,

so irreverently,

and so stupidly?

I beg your forgiveness.

I won't be sold to anyone

but that young man.

Me?

He can't have any money!

- You've decided?

- Only he can be my owner.

He has smooth cheeks

and his beauty enchants me.

Come on, buy this slave.

She has chosen you!

What are you waiting for?

She's yours!

Come.

Take my hand, come along.

Take this money.

- What then?

- Pay the seller,

then rent a house

in the district of carpenters.

Not there, silly. Not like that.

I don't know how to do it,

you show me!

Stop playing, Barsum. Come!

Come, I say! Quick!

Nuredin, wake up. Come here!

What is it, my love?

Did you stay up all night to do that?

Look.

Go to the market

and sell it for two hundred dinars.

But listen carefully.

Don't sell it to a blue-eyed man.

Not at any price. Understood?

I fear that something will part us.

I feel a shadow in my heart.

Fear not, I am here.

Look how beautiful this is, sir.

A work of art. Who made it?

A slave girl made it for me.

I'll buy it.

You ask me to sell my soul.

I'm joking. Please take it.

Two hundred dinars.

I'll pay one thousand.

I've been forbidden

to sell it to a blue-eyed man.

That's a good offer:

It's more than it's worth.

Very well. But stay away from me!

Christian, why fellow me?

? II I ask is for something to eat.

I'm starving.

I have nothing. Go with God.

God expects us to help each other,

doesn't He?

What is it?

What are you reading?

Listen...

My eyes saw her, to my misfortune.

What agony it was to leave her there.

Poets of my court!

Let us see if it's true that poets can

speak of things they have not seen.

Compose a poem

that begins with these words:

"My eyes saw her, to my misfortune.

"What agony it was to leave her there."

You!

My eyes saw her, to my misfortune.

What agony it was to leave her there.

This gazelle which held me captive

beneath the shade of two palm trees.

She bathed in water from a silver vase.

She saw me, and hid her charms.

But they peeped through her hands.

Ah, to lie with her for an hour or two!

I said to two youths: "I love you".

"Have you money?", they replied.

And l:
"Yes, I spend generously."

They exclaimed:
"It's a deal."

Look over there.

Who are those three boys?

You boys!

May I read some verses to you?

I wrote them when I was almost

as young as you.

"I am old now,

with all the desires of the young.

"I have a passion for enjoyment,

and I love men in their youth.

"Oh, city of purity,

we dream of nothing but sin."

Now, I have a suggestion.

- We're listening.

- Tell us!

Come to my house:

I promise everything you desire.

Precious wine from the monastery,

lamb and all kinds of birds.

Let us eat, drink,

then you will take pleasure

with each other,

and with me, if you wish.

Very well.

Let's go.

The greatest joy is a young drinker

with handsome boys for company.

One sings for him,

one drinks to his health,

and the other offers him

his mouth to be kissed.

Write a verse about us!

I would give my life

for the tenderness of this cheek

- what bliss!

Blessed be He who created

the smooth cheeks of youth,

and gave you this beautiful colour!

While my soul remains

in this tranquil village,

my heart is torn between two desires:

The minarets of Baghdad,

and the land of the two mosques.

- What is your name?

- Berhane.

- How old are you?

- Fifteen.

- Are you married?

- No, and I don't ever want to be.

Why? Have women hurt you?

No, but books say

they are treacherous.

Heaven on earth

is to be found on their breasts,

and the moon shines on their mound.

This too is written in books.

But it is in their nature to betray men,

whether near or far.

They paint their eyes

and plait their hair.

They make you swallow bitter pills.

Will you come to my palace?

Yes, thank you, sir.

- What is your name?

- Giana.

- How old are you?

- Fifteen.

- Would you like to come with me?

- With pleasure.

Come, let's go.

You'll lose your bet, Zeudi.

Your girl is urine

compared to my myrrh.

No point in arguing.

We've put them to sleep together

with different drugs,

so they'll wake at different times.

They'll judge for themselves.

You and I will never agree.

She is more beautiful than he. Look!

You're wrong.

He is the most handsome.

Love will decide the contest.

We will wake them, and the one

who falls in love with the other

is the less beautiful:

For the plain love the beautiful.

Very well, let love decide.

God wills what will happen,

or won't happen.

Neither of us has won.

They love each other equally.

One is the mirror of the other.

Two full moons in the same sky.

- How did you get in?

- What difference does it make?

Recognize me, Zumurrud?

You dared to say I couldn't get it up.

Now I'll punish you.

God will punish you!

Nuredin!

Blood of my blood, Zumurrud!

Where are you?

What's your name, handsome lad,

and why are you crying?

What's happening?

I've lost my slave.

I paid a thousand dinars for her.

? blue-eyed Christian

stole her from me.

I'll die without her!

Don't cry. I'll find your Zumurrud,

even if I have to disguise myself

and search every house.

Thank you.

I have good news for you, Nuredin!

So, Nuredin:
I've found your slave.

She was taken to Rashid's house.

I spoke to her there.

She'll be waiting for you tonight,

by the garden wall.

She'll whistle, you help her down,

and you'll escape.

I've helped you,

now you have to be nice to me.

Show me you're a man.

My love...

You'll make him rise!

You bet I will!

My love...

Nuredin, grab the rope!

Help me, my love!

My love!

Hold this bag, it's full of gold.

Who are you?

Where are you taking me?

I'm me,

and I'll take you where I like.

Who are you?

Nuredin's hair is silky...

you feel like a pig!

Let me go, you ugly beast.

Hold your tongue, or I'll murder you.

Walk!

We killed that soldier.

We'll do the same to you

if you don't shut up.

I am Giwan the Cruel.

We're forty thieves,

and tonight well all have you.

I've brought you something precious,

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Pier Paolo Pasolini

Pier Paolo Pasolini (Italian: [ˈpjɛr ˈpaːolo pazoˈliːni]; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian film director, poet, writer, and intellectual. Pasolini also distinguished himself as an actor, journalist, novelist, playwright, and political figure. He remains a controversial personality in Italy due to his blunt style and the focus of some of his works on taboo sexual matters, but he is an established major figure in European literature and cinematic arts. His murder prompted an outcry in Italy and its circumstances continue to be a matter of heated debate. more…

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