ROCHESTER — A Muslim Film Series at Oakland University begins on Sunday at 2 p.m.

The first film set to be screened on Nov. 9 is “Le Grand Voyage,” at 156 North Foundation Hall in Rochester.

Screenshots from the film “Le Grand Voyage”

Directed by Ismael Ferroukhi, the film is about a French-Moroccan patriarch determined to perform hajj, the religious pilgrimage to Mecca, who commands his teenage son to drive him from France to Saudi Arabia.

The university’s

College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, which houses an Islamic Studies Program, said in a release it would be screening films from the Middle East throughout November. “The need for increased understanding of religious influences in the modern world has perhaps never been more apparent than at the present time,” the statement said.

“This film series is intended to give viewers fresh perspectives on the Islamic world through films that are little known in the States.”

The films to be shown are in Persian, Farsi, Arabic or French with English subtitles.

All are free and open to the public.

They are to be shown on three consecutive Sunday afternoons, with post-viewing discussions held after each film.

The film “Gabbeh” is scheduled on Nov. 16.

“The Wind Will Carry Us” is scheduled for Nov. 23.

Screenshots from the film “Le Grand Voyage”