By Amina Abdel-Halim:

As Solange Knowles wisely said “Very often… The outspoken women are painted as angry and bitter spirits. The outspoken men are praised as revolutionaries and heroes.” This often applies in the film industry; however, you’d be pleasantly surprised to see that some Egyptian movies have been able to break the stereotypes and tell the stories of inspiring women. From vintage 70’s dramas to modern-day productions, we’d like to point out some out-of-the-box Egyptian movies that feature strong female leads.

 

Ana Horra (I am Free, 1959):

ana horra

Ana Horra is an Egyptian drama movie directed by Salah Abu Seif. The film, which is an adaptation of Ihsan Abdel Quddous’ novel, follows the story of Amina (Lobna Abdel Aziz), a young Egyptian woman living with her exceedingly conservative aunt and uncle, who struggles to break free from an oppressive male-dominated society. She stands up to her family as they try to force her into an arranged marriage at a very young age, and fights for her right to pursue an education.

The story is quite controversial, as it tackles some sensitive subjects, and some scenes may have been considered explicit at the time. Although the ending may seem a bit idealistic, the film never fails to capture the frustration of becoming a woman in a society that refuses to see women as anything more than potential wives or mothers.

 

Afwah Wa Araneb (Mouths and Rabbits, 1977):

afwah wa araneb

Afwah Wa Araneb, directed by Henry Barakat, is an Egyptian drama film that tells the story of Neamat (Faten Hamama), a single woman living in a rural village with her sister, her alcoholic brother-in-law, and their children. When her brother-in-law tries to forcefully marry her to a wealthy man, Neamat runs away to Mansoura where she works at a farm. She falls in love with the owner who brings back her hope, and they plan to get married. She goes home to inform her family, only to find out that her brother-in-law has found a way to legally marry her without her knowledge…

The movie addresses a variety of issues, including social inequalities, social mobility, and divorce. The main character is one we can definitely look up to: despite having been lied to, mistreated and disrespected by the men in her life, she decided to take her own destiny in charge, and fought for her right to marry the man of her choice.

 

Ahlam Hind w Kamilia (Dreams of Hind and Kamilia, 1988):

ahlam hind w kamilia

This Egyptian drama, directed by Mohamed Khan, tells the story of two working-class women, Hind and Kamelia. Hind (Aida Reyad) is a rural widow, who moves to the city after her husband’s death and works as a maid to provide for her mother and sisters. Kamilia (Naglaa Fathy) is a divorced woman who lives with her brother and also works as a maid to support him and his family. The story focuses on the growing friendship between the two women, their struggle, and the obstacles they face as they struggle to create a better life for themselves. The film also sheds light on some important societal issues like poverty and domestic abuse.

 

Fatat el Masna3 (Factory Girl, 2014):

fatat el masna3

Directed by Mohammed Khan, this painfully realistic Egyptian drama follows the life of Hiyam (Yasmin Raeis), an impoverished 21 year old worker in a textile factory. Hiyam falls in love with her supervisor, and soon finds out the attraction is mutual. When rumors of a pregnancy emerge, out of pride, she does not defend herself, but instead, sees an opportunity to free herself from a society which allows no deviation from traditions. But freedom comes at a very high price, and the young woman faces cruel consequences for her alleged misbehavior.

The film brilliantly captures the lives of working-class women, in an environment dictated by a strict and oppressive moral code, disguised as “religion.” It serves as an eye-opener, and reminds us that even though the privileged social classes have become more accepting of personal freedom, the less fortunate still struggle with extreme conservatism.

 

 

In terms of how women are treated and perceived, Egypt still has a ways to go. But as you can see, some filmmakers have had the courage to address the issues, and hopefully, films like those mentioned in this article might help get the message through.