Khaberni - Egyptian artist Mohamed Sobhy has retracted his previous aggressive opinion about the film "El Set," stating that the artistic work is an outstanding addition to the history of Egyptian cinema, but he pointed to some scenes that would have been better modified or removed to preserve the image of Umm Kulthum as a national and artistic symbol.
During his appearance on "El Shams" channel, Sobhy explained that his objection was not about the artistic work itself but stemmed from his desire to present the artistic biography without distortion or exaggeration of personal aspects of icons, highlighting that the film is brilliant and its makers succeeded in presenting a complete picture of the Eastern Star.
Sobhy added that there are some shots that depict Umm Kulthum inappropriately, such as showing her being irritable or rude in her dealings with others, which contradicts the image he personally sees based on his long experience working at the box office of her concerts, where he witnessed her respect and humility, pointing to a famous incident when she asked him to give up his front-row seat for a foreign guest, then brought him to a better place and offered him a symbolic reward.
Sobhy emphasized that presenting the artistic biography should focus on accomplishments and creativity, not on personal details that only reflect an individual's private life, asserting that icons like Umm Kulthum and the stalwarts of Egyptian art should not be reduced to superficial events or inaccurate negative estimations.
He also sent a message to the filmmakers saying that the film honors Umm Kulthum, but caution is needed when dealing with some situations that may be misunderstood by the younger audience.
Sobhy reiterated his artistic vision that believes in the honesty of presenting the artistic biography as the basis, and that artistic works that adhere to these principles are timeless, adding that any exaggeration or misrepresentation of the history of artistic figures becomes a breach of the true message of art and wastes the effort spent in honoring the icon.
The film "El Set" features actress Mona Zaki as Umm Kulthum, alongside Mohamed Farag, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Sayed Ragab, and Tamer Nabil, with special appearances by several stars including Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Helmy, Amr Saad, Nelly Karim, and Amina Khalil.
