The Dupes

A forgotten masterpiece of Arab cinema, THE DUPES is an adaptation of Ghassan Kanafani’s novella "Men in the Sun" (1963). Set in the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, the film depicts the perilous journey of three Palestinian men from different generations in their quest to escape their miserable lives and find prosperity in the oil-rich country of Kuwait. Haunted by the mirage of hope and the alluring promises of their guide, Al-Khaizaran (Abderrahman Alrahy), they agree to be smuggled across the blistering desert of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti borders, risking their lives for the salvation they hope to find. Is there a way out from the anguish of defeat and displacement? Tewfik Saleh (1926 - 2013) is one of the most renowned Egyptian directors, known for his innovative storytelling style and powerful aesthetics that remain deeply committed to critically addressing questions of political oppression and class struggle. THE DUPES is not only a courageous testimony to the suffering of Palestinian refugees after the Nakba but also sheds light on the complicity of Arab regimes in exacerbating their tragedy. After years of struggling with censorship, institutional corruption, and the political aftermath of 1967, Saleh had to leave Egypt to realize his vision for THE DUPES in Syria.
Restored in 2023 by The Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project and Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with the National Film Organization and the family of Tewfik Saleh.
Special thanks to Mohamed Challouf and Nadi Nekol Nas. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.