The years pass, but the turf-proud tribalism is timeless. An increasing number of outlets rent foreign-language videos. At least on video.
Videos connect immigrants to a homeland left behind.
But their crazy quilt of stories also gives us a glimpse into the highest hopes of the rest of the world's media dreams. If you don't read Arabic, you'll have trouble choosing which videos to rent from the hundreds listed, in Arabic only, in the store's huge three-ring binders. There are photocopies of some video boxes in the notebooks, and the counter people are willing to discuss films once they are sure you are serious about renting an Arab-language video. Virtually none of the videos are subtitled in English. 773.465.3337 Though primarily catering to West Rogers Park's substantial Russian community, the store also has a small selection of movies in Arabic from Egypt.