study in the United States. The headman of the village reminds Suad of her promise to teach in the village after graduation, and Najla decides to take Suad's place. Cast Daad Terazi as Najla Nadia Abuhaidar as Suad Saida Albekri as Narrator Production Development South of the Clouds was developed in response to a request by Protestant mission boards functioning under the Missionary Education Movement to assist in its promotion of overseas missionary education. The Division of Audio Visual Education of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America assisted in the production. The script focuses on the activities of a Christian college in the Near East—the Beirut College for Women—and its introduction of "modern democratic ways of thinking and living" to a student body composed of girls from all religions, nationalities, and economic circumstances, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The main character is a Muslim girl for whom the democratic milieu of the college is a stark departure from her own upbringing, though over time she learns to embrace it. Casting The production employed native actors and actresses. Upon the showing of the film at the Second Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, church members spotted one of their own who was working at the Beirut College for Women in one of the scenes. Filming Filming took place on location in Beirut, Lebanon. Scenes filmed on the campus of the Beirut College for Women were done under the supervision of W. A. Stoltzfus, president of the college. The documentary takes up one film reel and is 30 minutes in length. It was produced in a 16 mm format. Release The film was released in 1950. It was not released commercially, but was available for rental to Protestant denominational churches in the United States. The release coincided with the church's 1950–1951 foreign mission study which stressed the Near East region. According to Lindvall and Quicke, the film was promoted by the Christian Film Service as part of a Southern Baptist effort to familiarize their denominations with missionary education efforts underway in foreign countries. Reception South of the Clouds was named best in its class at the 1950 Cleveland Film Festival. The Presbyterian Church of the United States of America reported that South of the Clouds was the most popular film among church rentals in 1951, with 462 rentals recorded. References Sources 1950 films American