
Black Gold(2011)
Overview
On the Arabian Peninsula in the 1930s, two warring leaders come face to face. The victorious Nesib, Emir of Hobeika, lays down his peace terms to rival Amar, Sultan of Salmaah. The two men agree that neither can lay claim to the area of no man’s land between them called The Yellow Belt. In return, Nesib adopts Amar’s two boys Saleeh and Auda as a guarantee against invasion. Twelve years later, Saleeh and Auda have grown into young men. Saleeh, the warrior, itches to escape his gilded cage and return to his father’s land. Auda cares only for books and the pursuit of knowledge. One day, their adopted father Nesib is visited by an American from Texas. He tells the Emir that his land is blessed with oil and promises him riches beyond his wildest imagination. Nesib imagines a realm of infinite possibility, a kingdom with roads, schools and hospitals all paid for by the black gold beneath the barren sand. There is only one problem. The precious oil is located in the Yellow Belt.
Director
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Studio
France 2 Cinéma
Budget
$40M
Revenue
$5M
Cast

Mark Strong
as Sultan Amar

Antonio Banderas
as Emir Nesib

Freida Pinto
as Leyla

Tahar Rahim
as Auda

Riz Ahmed
as Ali

Lotfi Dziri
as Sheikh of Bani Sirri

Liya Kebede
as Aicha

Corey Johnson
as Thurkettle

Akin Gazi
as Saleh

Ériq Ebouaney
as Hassan Dakhil

Ramzy Lehner
as
Taoufik Ayeb
as Sergeant Talib
Where to Watch
Availability may vary by region. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Movie Facts
Release Year
2011
Runtime
2h 10m
Language
English
Rating
6.5 / 10
Budget
$40M
Box Office
$5M
Production Companies
France 2 Cinéma • Quinta Communications • Carthago Films
You Might Also Like
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Black Gold?▼
Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for Black Gold (2011).
What is Black Gold about?▼
On the Arabian Peninsula in the 1930s, two warring leaders come face to face. The victorious Nesib, Emir of Hobeika, lays down his peace terms to rival Amar, Sultan of Salmaah. The two men agree that neither can lay claim to the area of no man’s land between them called The Yellow Belt. In return, Nesib adopts Amar’s two boys Saleeh and Auda as a guarantee against invasion. Twelve years later, Saleeh and Auda have grown into young men. Saleeh, the warrior, itches to escape his gilded cage and return to his father’s land. Auda cares only for books and the pursuit of knowledge. One day, their adopted father Nesib is visited by an American from Texas. He tells the Emir that his land is blessed with oil and promises him riches beyond his wildest imagination. Nesib imagines a realm of infinite possibility, a kingdom with roads, schools and hospitals all paid for by the black gold beneath the barren sand. There is only one problem. The precious oil is located in the Yellow Belt.
Who directed Black Gold?▼
Black Gold was directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and released in 2011. It is a adventure, drama film.
How long is Black Gold?▼
Black Gold has a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes (130 minutes total).
Who stars in Black Gold?▼
The cast of Black Gold includes Mark Strong as Sultan Amar, Antonio Banderas as Emir Nesib, Freida Pinto as Leyla, Tahar Rahim as Auda, Riz Ahmed as Ali and more.
Explore More by Genre
Need a recommendation?
Tell us your mood and we'll pick the perfect movie for you.








