Tajouje + Al-Sit

Featuring a conversation with critic and curator Murtada Elfadl and series programmer Farihah Zaman

Dir. Gadalla Gubara. 1977, 92 mins. Sudan. In Arabic with English subtitles. DCP. With Majda Hamadnalla, Salah ibn Al Badiya. Set against the breathtaking desert landscapes of eastern Sudan, Tajouje is a mesmerizing blend of folklore, romance, and tragedy. Directed by Sudanese cinema trailblazer Gadalla Gubara, the film tells the story of a taboo passion that defies tribal traditions, leading to heartbreak and exile. The film’s melancholic beauty is heightened by the haunting voice of Salah ibn Al Badiya in the lead role, whose singing transforms this melodrama into a paean for lost love and freedom. Beyond its emotional heft and beautiful imagery, Tajouje stands as a landmark in Sudanese film history—both a bold artistic statement and an enduring cultural document.  

Preceded by 

Al-Sit 

Dir. Suzannah Mirghani. 2020, 20 mins. Sudan. DCP. In Arabic with English subtitles. With Mihad Murtada, Rabeha Mohammed Mahmoud, Mohammed Magdi Hassan. In a cotton-farming village in Sudan, 15-year-old Nafisa has a crush on Babiker, but her parents prefer Nadir, a young Sudanese businessman living abroad. Al-Sit, the powerful village matriarch, has her own plans for Nafisa’s future. With its captivating performances and gorgeous cinematography, Al-Sit warmly reflects on womanhood, generational growth, and power, a vital part of today’s wave of contemporary Sudanese filmmaking, which Mirghani has said “is finally beginning to flourish after decades of prohibition and neglect.” 

Tickets: $17.50 / $12 senior and students / $10 youth (ages 3–17) / free for MoMI members at the Senior/Student level and above. There is a $1.50 transaction fee per ticket for all online purchases. The cost of admission may be applied toward a same-day purchase of a membership. 

Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission.