Koran by Heart

(2011) Koran By Heart (Much of the language is in Arab, Muslim and Koran with English subtitles) DOCUMENTARY

Fascinating documentary about a gathering of mostly underage children entering the country of Cairo competing for the citing of the Koran (Qur'an) bible who have to memorize and speak perfectly by means of custom and tradition. The civilize debates regarding the Koran book is also in here as well. As ignorant as I am since I've never been to Cairo and had only seen movies about it whenever a settings being used, I've often wondered why I can hear the citing of the Koran spoken during the daytime whenever I were to watch a film, I've always wondered about the purpose of hearing about the sound of Koran spoken through huge loud speakers and as a result of this film fully makes the viewers understand it even more as well as it's purpose! The only problem I have with this documentary is that it's a little short thinking that their could've been more that could've been said.

This is a very interesting, heartwarming and soulful documentary. Produced by HBO Documentary Films and shot mostly in Egypt just prior to the Arab Spring in 2011, this documentary revolves around the Quran memorization competition, held there every year, where children from around the world are invited compete in their Quran recitation abilities.

The documentary follows three specific children competing to win first prize in that competition. The children come from various backgrounds: two boys from Senegal and Tajikistan, and a little girl from Maldives. The filmmakers highlight these children's normal daily lives, their struggles in their home countries and the challenges they face in the competition.

Beautifully made, this documentary is an eye opener to the hardships people in different parts of the word face; an interesting peek into the Middle East's most recent political past; but also, and most importantly, this documentary serves as an exposure and as a nice introduction to the Quran for non-Muslims. I highly recommend.

Nothing gets the blood flowing (sometimes quite literally) like a good old-fashioned competition. In the United States, school kiddies reach for the brass ring via spelling bees, team sports, debate tournaments, and a whole host of other academic tilts (Model U.N, anyone?). Overseas, the competitive spirit is also hale and hearty, but channeled in different directions: in the Muslim world, for example, children learn to recite the Islamic holy book by heart and have the opportunity to show off their skills at a Qu'ran reciting joust held annually in Cairo. This excellent HBO original documentary follows the exploits of three gifted ten-year olds (one each from the Maldives, Senegal, and Tajikistan) who have their eyes on the big Cairo prize: an all expenses paid trip to Disneyland! No, I'm kidding - they actually just get a plaque. It's probably only a matter of time until an uber-competitive American Muslim gets the fever for Qu'ran recitation and brings the prize home to the good ol' U.S. of A., at which point we'll probably start seeing the contest broadcast on ESPN 3 in between Texas Hold 'Em tournaments and the X Games.

This is the first time i'm writing a review and maybe it is because i haven't been so unexpectedly thrown off by any movie/documentary like this before.

When i started watching "Koran by Heart", I didn't expect much from it other than the director following the competition in Egypt and pretty much that. But the way the movie follows the three kids, provides their story in bits, and focuses on the competition along with, it was simply brilliant. The documentary has a richness to it that makes it a must see for everyone.

I won't write anything about the story but again say that it is the most inspiring documentary I have watched in a long time. It made me laugh and it made me cry. And while the major focus of the documentary is the competition, it tackles so much more than that!

My sons are Marines that served both in Iraq and Afganistan and of course I was a former Marine. I read extensively and consider myself well read and I especially love ancient history. This movie was amazing and if you just listened and watched it explains so much the difference between how I raised my children in my Christain faith and how their children are raised. Seeing the faithfulness of the children to their parents and their teachers wishes was enlightening. You could see the fundamentalism expressed openly and the mistrust of non believers (non Muslim) as well as the man en-charge of the competition explain is moderate stance. You see the simple life and the modern inter mixed yet seemingly seamless. The attempt of modern communication merging with 700AD speculation and mistrust is real. Yet at the same time I question some of the judges motives who they picked as winners not saying that the young man who spoke no Arabic, memorized the whole Koran and recited so beautifully was not schooled in the appropriate rhythmic requirements was heralded as a genius ultimately will win a life and the little girl will loose hers. Again a great movie