The Black Tent

Present-day English colonel and estate owner who pursues the truth behind a buried family secret. He navigates the conflict between duty to country and loyalty to family, guided by a diary that could alter inheritance. His estranged awareness of lineage drives the film’s central moral questions about kinship.

Blond-haired British officer in WWII Libya who is wounded and sheltered by Mabrouka’s tribe. He forms a forbidden bond with Mabrouka and becomes the father of Daoud, complicating loyalties between tribe and empire. He dies heroically while trying to rescue allies, leaving a lasting impact on both generations.

Daughter of Sheik Salem who shelters Captain Holland and falls in love with him. Her courage enables cross-cultural ties and her child binds two worlds together. Her choices drive the romance and the eventual revelation of lineage and inheritance.

Chief of the tribe who provides shelter and initially resists, then partially approves, the relationship between Mabrouka and the British captain. He embodies the tribal authority that must balance tradition with changing loyalties. His decisions shape the fate of Mabrouka’s child and the family’s place in the desert.

Mabrouka’s fiancé from another tribe who colludes with German forces, creating a rival faction and conflict within the diamond-tinted romance. His actions intensify betrayal and force the protagonists to confront competing loyalties. He meets a violent end during the clashes that unfold in the ruins.

A desert guide who leads Sir Charles into the Libyan sands and serves as a critical bridge between tribes and British authorities. He passes Mabrouka the key diary page, linking the present to the past. His loyalty helps maintain trust amid shifting alliances.

A high-ranking German commander who arrives at the Bedouin camp, drives reconnaissance missions, and confronts the tribe’s defenses. He represents the occupation threat against which Captain Holland and Mabrouka’s alliance must stand. His presence escalates the military stakes of the desert conflict.

A German officer subordinate to the senior commander who participates in the camp raid and the pursuit of Captain Holland. He embodies the operational pressure exerted by the German forces in the desert theater. His actions contribute to the perilous tension in the ruins and camps.

Blond-haired boy born to Mabrouka and Captain Holland, raised within the Bedouin tribe. His existence ties the British officer’s legacy to Mabrouka’s people, complicating the inheritance debate in the present. He chooses to remain with the tribe, embodying the fusion of two worlds.

British diplomat in Tripoli who handles imperial interests and coordinates coordination with the Foreign Office. His presence underscores the political stakes of the diary’s revelations. He represents official authorities weighing the consequences of truth becoming public.

Interpreter who translates conversations and helps bridge language gaps in the tense desert encounters. His role highlights the cross-cultural communication essential to navigating alliance and suspicion. He supports the unfolding dialogue between tribes, officers, and families.