Destiny (Al-Masir )

Set in Cordoba during the Islamic Caliphate in 12th century Spain, Destiny chronicles the life of Ibn Rushd, known in Europe as Averroes, a preeminent philosopher and major commentator on the work of Aristotle. Speaking out against religious extremism, his teachings on the ethic of tolerance attract a wide group of young scholars. But amidst the religious zealots, he must choose between conforming to those authorities’ wishes or defending what he believes. Made at a time of rising fundamentalists, it’s at once an electrifying musical and a political plea, with a relevance stronger now than ever.

Cannes Film Festival: In Competition