Khaberni - Egyptian director Mohamed Diab defended the team of the movie "El Set," rejecting the film's involvement in a foreign conspiracy against Egyptian art, as some promoted.
Diab stated on his official Facebook page: "The esteemed artist Mohamed Sobhi accused the movie 'El Set' of being part of a foreign conspiracy, and I'm still reading an article by a critic repeating the same words. People have the right to evaluate art, but it is not acceptable and arbitrary to accuse the filmmakers of betraying their conscience and their art," Diab stated.
He added, "The accusations target the participating production companies, most of which are state-owned. Is it conceivable that Marwan Hamed or Ahmed Murad or Mona Zaki are parts of a foreign conspiracy? Of course not."
Diab affirmed that all participants in the movie are "honest, free artists who strived to present an artistic work, and the public has the right to assess it aesthetically, but no one has the right to doubt their integrity and professionalism."
Responses and criticisms
Diab's statements came in response to criticisms by Egyptian artist Mohamed Sobhi of the movie, which portrays the biography of Umm Kulthum, expressing his rejection of any artistic work that might offend national symbols and historical figures.
Sobhi said during a phone intervention on the program "Hadrat Al-Mowaten" on "Al Hadath Al Youm" channel that adherence to historical truth is a fundamental requirement, affirming that artistic value alone is not enough to present any work. Sobhi also sent a special message to actress Mona Zaki, considering that she bears a significant ethical responsibility in portraying Umm Kulthum, given the "Star of the East's" status in the Egyptian cultural memory.
Sobhi recalled personal memories with Umm Kulthum during his preparatory school stage when he worked at the theater's ticket window and saved 3 pounds to listen to her songs.
Details of the work
The movie "El Set" showcases the biography of Umm Kulthum, focusing on her human and personal aspects, along with highlighting the most significant milestones in her professional and personal life and the influential relationships in her career.
The film features a stellar cast of Arab art stars, including Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Helmy, Nelly Karim, Amina Khalil, Asser Yassin, Mohamed Farag, Ahmed Amin, Amr Saad, Sayed Ragab, Taha Desouky, Amir El-Masry, and Sadiq Sakhr, in addition to Mona Zaki who portrays Umm Kulthum, alongside Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Ahmed Dawood, and Tamer Nabil, as well as prominent guest stars.
The film is written by Ahmed Murad and directed by Marwan Hamed, and it is one of the most prominent massive collective productions in Arab cinema, combining historical narration with intensive artistic performance, reviving the era of collective cinematic productions after years dominated by solo starring works.
