Egyptian cinema tackles extremism head-on in Mawlana

Over the past week, Egypt was rocked by violence once again. Terrorists orchestrated two bombings in the capital city of Cairo, one near the Great Pyramids of Giza, and another at the country’s main Coptic Christian cathedral, killing 24 people and injuring as many as 49 others. Although no major group has claimed responsibility, Egyptian daily Al-Masry Al-Youm reported that the suicide bomber had joined the Sinai-based Islamist militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis. 

In an environment where extremism and controversial interpretations of Islam have divided the people, Mawlana (“The Preacher”) has had a timely release. Produced by Amgad Sabry and directed by Magdy Ahmed Ali, the film saw its world premiere at the 2016 Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).

“We need to make films that tackle these topics and make people aware that Islam is not about extremism. I have spoken about this in my other films as well, so making this film was natural for me,” Ahmed Ali explained.

Magdy Ahmed Ali, director of Mawlana

An adaptation of the book by the same name, Mawlana tells the story of Sheikh Hatem, played by Amr Saad, who stands out in a society influenced by fundamentalist views. He amasses millions of fans as he goes from leading the prayers at a government mosque to becoming a popular TV celebrity, issuing fatwas that deviate from the traditional religious rhetoric. Hatem eventually finds himself caught within a complex web of conflict, and he must find a way to make a dent in the climate of hypocrisy and fear.

Despite the subject, Hatem is a wit, and the entire script has a humorous edge to it. “There is a real danger of religious fundamentalism in the country. The humour is not just about making the topic lighter; it’s also a reflection of reality, because we do have a lot of preachers on Egyptian TV who are quite funny and entertaining.”

But this does not mean that the topic is handled lightly. Ahmed Ali has taken the fast-paced segments from the book and added elements of action. Yet he has also avoided falling into the trap of spoon-feeding his beliefs to the audience.

“Egypt is one of the most conservative countries in the region, and we like to shove our weaknesses and fragilities under the carpet. It is not our intention to cause unrest in the country, but rather have people go watch the film and think. I must thank the Egyptian Censor Board and Dubai International Film Festival … for allowing us to show the film without any cuts,” he added.

CREATING A CONVERSATION

Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Artistic Director at DIFF, commented, “Cinema is a very powerful medium. We want to tell the world that Islam is not about extremism, and the actions or beliefs of a few do not define us. It may not make a huge difference, but it will make people think.”

Dealing with such a sensitive topic could not have been easy, but Ahmed Ali relied heavily on his cast to make the story and the characters convey his vision on screen. Saad commented that this was the most important role he has done in his life.

“I sought inspiration for my character from the story and from conversations with the director and author,” he explained. “Once on set, I felt like I was in the skin of the character. To me, this film is an important watch for every Muslim, and every human being on the planet, really.”

Tunisian actress Dorra, who portrays the role of Umaima in the film, believes that the film is important both from the artistic point of view as well as the values it is trying to impart. “I knew my character does not have much screen time, but I connected with the character as soon as I read the script, because I realised that she is the closest to the Mawlana and knows him from within.”

Dorra observed that some actors are hesitant about being part of an adaptation for fear that their role will be compared to the character in the book, but she loves to personify that which people can only imagine. It is this enthusiasm, shared by the team, that makes the film a must-watch.

“To make a good film, one must work with people that have the same values and beliefs,” said Ahmed Ali, who also plays a key character in the film. “I am blessed that the creators thought I was the one for this role.”

The sentiment in the film is best summed up by actress Reham Haggag: “Cinema should have a mission. We do too many films that entertain, but not inform. … A film like this is important because it makes people think. It’s important to change the religious discourse, and have a more contemporary presentation of this discourse.”

Mawlana will release in Egypt and other Arab territories in January 2017.

[Images provided by Digital Ink]