Film: A Voice Like Egypt November 21, 2007

Cinemagic is delighted to announce the return of our weekly screening programme. Screenings will now take place at our new location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics.

You are invited to attend Cinemagic's weekly documentary screening event. The event will take place on Wednesday, November 21st, at the Cinemagic Rooftop Venue above LG Electronics, Old Salmiya, and will run between 7:00 p.m – 9:30 p.m.

This week, we will be screening the documentary film "A Voice Like Egypt" - highlighting the life of the famous Egyptian singer Umm Kalthoum.

She had the musicality of Ella Fitzgerald, the public presence of Eleanor Roosevelt, and the audience of Elvis Presley. Her name was Umm Kulthum, and she became a powerful symbol, first of the aspirations of her country, Egypt, and then of the entire Arab world.

Born a peasant at the turn of the century, she became a woman of great wealth and power, confidant of presidents and kings, and above all, President Gamal Abd al-Nasser's unofficial ambassador in the region. Four million people were on the streets of Cairo for her funeral in 1975. To this day, her cassettes outsell every other Arabic female vocalist.

Narrated by Omar Sharif, Umm Kulthum, A Voice Like Egypt is the first documentary to bring Umm Kulthum to an American audience. The film puts her life in the context of the epic story of 20th century Egypt as it shook off colonialism and confronted modernity. The camera explores her astonishing connection with her audience, taking us into her village in the Nile Delta, and into the cafes, markets, and streets of Cairo where she lived and worked. From the Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz to a 12-year-old girl in an outdoor restaurant, people speak about the role Umm Kulthum's music has played in their lives, and sing their favorite songs for the camera.

For its part, Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public's interest in – and appreciation for – the art of filmmaking.

As always, attendance is free of charge (but seating is limited). Snacks and refreshments will be served.

Yazan Al Ghazzawi

PR & Marketing Manager

Kuwait Cinemagic

Tel: (+965) 574 3253

Cell: (+965) 722 2416

[email protected]

Official Website: http://www.cinemagics.com