Arts & Life

Jacir Eid plays the title character in Theed. Director Naji Abu Nowar says, "You put him in front of a camera and he just lit up the screen."

Arts

'Theeb' Looks At Middle East History Through The Eyes Of A Bedouin Boy

6:51pm February 05, 2016

by NPR Staff

The Oscar-nominated film is set in 1916 Saudi Arabia, a pivotal time in the region. Director Naji Abu Nowar says he wanted to explore "how strange and surreal it must have been" for the Bedouins.

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The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel.

Books
Arts

Confronting Loss While Scaling 'The High Mountains Of Portugal'

6:07pm February 05, 2016

by Jean Zimmerman

Yann Martel, author of The Life of Pi, conjures up three stories grounded in grief and magical realism in his latest novel.

Tensions flare when a local "best ram" competition results in a virtual tie, with Gummi's ram taking second place and Kiddi's taking first.

Arts

In 'Rams,' Two Icelandic Brothers Tend Troubles Of Flock And Family

5:01pm February 05, 2016

by Bob Mondello

Gummi and Kiddi are two sheep-herding brothers who've spent a lifetime butting heads near the top of the world. When a disease threatens their flocks, they must overcome decades of estrangement.

As Presidential Primaries Begin, Late Night TV Boosts Political Satire

4:54pm February 05, 2016

by Eric Deggans

Larry David will host Saturday Night Live this weekend, and viewers can expect his impression of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. NPR looks at late night's take on the campaign.

Sports
Arts

Small Batch: How To Eat The Super Bowl

4:48pm February 05, 2016

by Linda Holmes

Dan Pashman from The Sporkful podcast joins us for a talk about the eternal question: If you're watching the Super Bowl, what are you eating while you do?

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Books
Arts

Chris Offutt Reveals A Family Secret In 'My Father, The Pornographer'

2:10pm February 05, 2016

Offutt's late father went from running a small insurance agency to writing more than 400 books, mostly pornography. Originally broadcast March 2, 2015.

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Children attend a lesson in a classroom of a primary school, in Cherbourg-Octeville, northwestern France.

Gone Mot: The French Uproar Over Removing Some Circumflex Accents

2:04pm February 05, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Publishers in France are altering the spellings of around 2,400 words in textbooks and will drop the hat-shaped circumflex accent in some cases. That's causing outrage.

Tovah Feldshuh and Rachel Bloom in the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Arts

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,' 'Grease,' TV Musicals

10:00am February 05, 2016

by Linda Holmes

It's a show full of good tunes as we visit with the CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and take a tour of the recent spate of televised live musicals (with more to come).

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Father Vidal (Alfredo Castro) and Father Ortega (Alejandro Goic) in The Club.

Arts

'The Club': A Gathering Of Men In Exile

10:00am February 05, 2016

by Mark Jenkins

Chile's selection for the Oscar for foreign language film is admirable but arduous, following a story of defrocked priests living in a house together.

George Clooney as Baird Whitlock in 'Hail, Caesar!"

Arts

'Hail, Caesar!' Will Make You Miss Movies With Exclamation Points

6:00pm February 04, 2016

by Chris Klimek

The 17th film from the Coen Brothers stars George Clooney, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin and lots more in a rollicking tale of old Hollywood.