Egypt's ambassador to South Africa hosts a film evening in Pretoria that includes a screening of the film "Cairo Time".“
A film screening in Cairo Time
Written by: Ayman Ragab
The Egyptian Embassy in South Africa organized a film evening yesterday during which the Egyptian film “Cairo Time” was shown, in cooperation with the French Cultural Center in Pretoria.
Ambassador Ahmed Sherif, Egypt’s ambassador to South Africa, delivered a speech in which he highlighted the status of Egyptian cinema in the hearts of Arabic-speaking peoples across the continents of Africa and Asia.
Oran International Arab Film Festival
He also noted that the film “Cairo Time” received high international acclaim at the “Oran International Arab Film Festival”, where the late artist Nour El-Sherif won the Best Actor award, and the director and screenwriter Amir Ramses won the Best Screenplay award.
The evening was attended by a number of South African officials, most notably Ms. Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, as well as a group of ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, and those interested in cultural and artistic affairs, in the capital Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The film “Cairo Time” was released in 2015
The film “Cairo Time”, which was released in 2015, is one of the most prominent romantic dramas in Egyptian cinema. It was written and directed by Amir Ramses, and it represents the last cinematic work of the late artist Nour El-Sherif.
The film unfolds within a framework that combines drama and dark comedy, through a number of intersecting characters who suffer psychological and emotional crises within a society that imposes restrictions on feelings.
Nour El-Sherif portrays Yehia Shukry Murad, a cinematographer suffering from Alzheimer's disease, who travels to Cairo in search of the woman in a photograph he keeps in his pocket—a woman he loved in the past. Mervat Amin plays Layla El-Samahy, a retired actress who visits her former colleague, actor Sameh Kamal (played by Samir Sabry), to make an unusual request, given their long-standing friendship.
The film also stars Dorra, Sherif Ramzy, Ayten Amer, and Karim Kassem, along with a selection of other artists.
The film depicts the chaos and oblivion experienced by the residents of Cairo, highlighting the value of love and memories of a beautiful time, in a moving and humane treatment.
