HIBAPRESS – I. El Smlali
The 22nd edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival witnessed, on Wednesday, December 3rd, the screening of the Egyptian film "El Set," which re-presents the autobiography of the star of the East, Umm Kulthum. The film was directed by Marwan Hamed, and its budget reached about $8 million, while the artist Mona Zaki bore the burden of embodying the character of an artistic icon whose presence has lived in the memory of millions of Arabs for decades.
After the screening, journalists were given the opportunity to meet with the crew, where Marwan Hamed emphasized that they accept all reactions, stressing that any project that deals with a legendary figure of this magnitude faces contradictory expectations from the beginning. For her part, Mona Zaki affirmed her respect for all opinions, whether supportive or critical, stressing that the challenge was not only in fame, but in showing Umm Kulthum as she is: a human being with weaknesses and real pressures, not just an ideal icon.
Mona Zaki said that the most impactful moments for her during the filming of the film were those last years in the life of El Set, when she began to feel loneliness and psychological pressure that affected her overall health. These human aspects, as she explained, were the most difficult part of the role, because they required a delicate balance between spiritual performance and the realistic dimension of the character.
Screenwriter Ahmed Murad did not overlook the difficulty of the task, as he described the challenge by saying: "If I wrote a biography of the Prophet, it would have been much easier."
The screening of the film "El Set" comes within the efforts of the Marrakech Festival to present Arab cinematic works that combine the historical and human dimension of the characters, which allows the public and critics the opportunity to discuss a new experience in presenting Arab art icons in a different style, away from the ideal or traditional character.
