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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 10 - 16 June 1999 Issue No. 433
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Features Books Living Travel Sports Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A woman for all seasons
By Khairiya El-Bishlawi
Umm Kulthoum (1898-1975) was not just a great singer. She was a central part of the modern history of Egypt. She cast a long shadow over the best part of the 20th century, not only as an artist, but also as a woman. Indeed, it often seemed she was many women in one: an Egyptian through and through, yet also a peasant from the heart of the Delta, whose sharp intelligence, iron resolve and sense of humour all combined to enhance her extraordinary genius.
photo: Sherif SonbolThough many documentary films, both foreign and Egyptian, have been made about her, there was until now no feature film taking stock of the life of this diva and her influence on Arab history. It is a real challenge for any actress to enact such a character on the silver screen. Ferdous Abdel-Hamid had been dreaming of playing the role since the early 1980s. Now her dream is about to come true, in the feature film Kawkab Al-Sharq (Star of the East), produced and directed by her husband Mohamed Fadel, in which she is cast as Umm Kulthoum. The film, to be released on 5 July, will be screened at 25 cinemas around the country.
"I have locked myself in this room for one whole year, listening to songs, rehearsals tapes and videos of Umm Kulthoum," says Ferdous Abdel-Hamid as we sit in her living room. "Contemplating her magical performance, the brilliance of the language, the way she pronounces every singe letter of the word... what power! what lucidity! what coquettishness! all culminating in the most passionate finales, with perfect control." Thus Umm Kulthoum's voice came to act as a bridge between the diva and the woman who was to act the story of her life.
But how could Ferdous hope to emulate that all encompassing voice in her own performance? "I have been taking intensive voice lessons to extend my range. But I am only going to try and approximate her voice in everyday speech -- not in singing, of course. The songs in the film will be sung by her."
Umm Kulthoum was not just an artistic phenomenon. She was the focal point for so many aspirations and hopes, both national and pan-Arab. I ask Ferdous how the film will represent this aspect of the diva's life. "The script writer Ibrahim El-Mogi has made a tremendous effort to research all aspects of her life, as well as the social and historical climate of the period," she explains. "He has relied mainly on archival material, books and interviews with people who knew her well, such as the late journalist Mustafa Amin."
Umm Kulthoum was known to be very discreet about her love life. Are there any new revelations about that aspect of her character in the film? "She was a very strong, even dramatic, character. She was also very much a family woman. She dealt very generously with all the members of her extended family, a number of whom even lived with her in her villa in Zamalek. We will show that aspect of her family life, as well as the men with whom she had close friendships, such as Sonbati, Assabgui, Taha Hussein, Ahmed Rami, and even earlier figures, like Sheikh Abul-Ela Mohamed and Sayid Darwish. And some of the relationships we allude to may come as a revelation to the film's viewers."
Umm Kulthoum also had a very distinctive style -- her way of dressing, her make-up, her coiffure. Has Ferdous, I wondered, been able to reproduce this feature of her heroine? "Costume was the most expensive single item in my budget. Dresses alone cost LE200,000, and the jewellery, though of course it was imitation, also cost a lot. We tried to borrow some of the jewellery Umm Kulthoum herself had worn, especially the famous crescent-shaped diamond broach. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible. This particular broach is now in the possession of Akhbar Al-Yom, which manages a charity fund in Umm Kulthoum's name."
In conclusion, the woman who will play Es-Sitt (The Lady) added, "This film has a huge production budget. It has cost LE3 million. So far, we have sold copies to many Arab countries. All we are hoping is to cover the bank loan. As for myself and my husband, we don't want to take any fees."
