nasser 56
its director says
nasser 56
has struck a special chord among egypt' s disenchanted youth .
this pivotal period in the modern history of egypt has been intelligently recreated in docu - drama style in a critically acclaimed film, “nasser 56, ” by egyptian director mohamed fadel and starring egyptian actor ahmad zaki as nasser .
cairo, egypt (cnn) - - forty years after gamal abdel nasser nationalized egypt' s suez canal, egyptians are reliving the historic event through a new movie ,
nasser 56 ,
which has taken egypt by storm .
egyptian president gamal abdel nasser was one of the towering figures of the mid - 20 th century. the 1996 film nasser ’56, directed by mohamed fadel, captures the moment in history with which he is most associated, the nationalization of the international maritime company, which gave egypt control over the suez canal .
the film presents not only nasser the leader but also nasser the family man, with the actors portraying his wife and children playing large roles in the movie .
this chapter studies the film nasser 56, which seems to suggest a potent nostalgia for the nationalist project, noting that the film avoids nasser' s nationalization and import - substitution policies, and instead emphasizes the much less controversial suez crisis. it also reveals that while the film marked many faults within egyptian society, everyone was eager to take credit for it .
despite such criticisms ,
nasser 56
has been such a hit that directors are planning to churn out more movies depicting famous egyptians and historical events. for theatergoers, it is a chance to slip back into time, when good and evil, triumph and adversity, were black and white .
cnn - nasser film strikes chord with the people of egypt - oct. 24, 1996
nasser ’56 also does a good job of capturing the unique aspects of its title character. despite the fact that nasser could inspire and motivate millions, he was known for his personal modesty and attachment to simple tastes. in the film, when one of his children mentions that a playmate of his lives in a house that has two bathrooms, nasser, who can scarcely conceive of why anyone would desire such a luxury, incredulously replies, “they must have a very large family. ”
currently the biggest box office hit in egypt, “nasser 56” shows all the signs of making a triumphant sweep through other arab countries. its tunisian premier at the carthage film days had auds spontaneously applauding all the way through its two - hour - plus running time. but whether this adulatory biopic of egypt’s charismatic postwar leader, president gamal abdel nasser (in office from 1954 - 70), has much to say to westerners is another matter .
currently the biggest box office hit in egypt, “nasser 56” shows all the signs of making a triumphant sweep through other arab countries. its tunisian premier at the carthage film days had auds spontaneously applauding all the way through its two - hour - plus running time. but whether this adulatory biopic of egypt’s charismatic postwar leader, president gamal [ … ]
nasser is portrayed by actor ahmed zaki, widely regarded as one of egypt' s sexiest leading men .
currently the biggest box office hit in egypt ,
nasser 56
shows all the signs of making a triumphant sweep through other arab countries. its tunisian premier at the carthage film days had auds spontaneously applauding all the way through its two - hour - plus running time. but whether this adulatory biopic of egypt' s charismatic postwar leader, president gamal abdel nasser (in office from 1954 - 70), has much to say to westerners is another matter .
no less a figure than jawaharlal nehru said, “president nasser is one of those men who gave a new turn to history. ” that sentiment is well captured here .
with: gamal abdel nasser... ahmed zaki his wife... fardous abdel hamid mahmoud younis... ahmed maher old woman... amina rizk
with: gamal abdel nasser... ahmed zaki his wife... fardous abdel hamid mahmoud younis... ahmed maher old woman... amina rizk
family man nasser (played with great charisma by star ahmed zaki, a cross between nasser and humphrey bogart) has a cloying wife and five adorable kids, but running the nation takes up most of his time. when pic opens he is already a national hero, having abolished the monarchy and ended britain’s 72 - year occupation of egypt .
there are also humorous touches. a specialist on the canal who is summoned by nasser is on vacation. when he is found in his pajamas and bathrobe in his country house, he is not allowed to change before being rushed to the capital. only upon arrival at the president’s office are his entreaties for clothing so as to present a dignified persona before nasser finally heard, but he is given only five minutes to dress .
later, the two men charged with planning the takeover of the canal are called before nasser. both are already short on sleep, but are forced to stay awake for several more days to formulate the plan, present it to nasser, and then finally carry it out. one of the two constantly reminds his colleague of the accumulating sleepless hours, but it is the second who falls asleep instantly when their job is done .
it is interesting to note that what precipitated the crisis, beyond the normal instinct of the egyptians to control their own resources, was interference from the western powers over the possible involvement of soviet funding for the high aswan dam project. once the dam was in fact completed with soviet assistance in 1958, life magazine called it, “one of the noblest possible justifications of co - existence. ” prior to those lauds, however, came the crisis of ’56, in which the egyptian people and their president were viewed in quite a different light by the bourgeois press and the capitalist powers .
nasser was barely 36 years old in 1952 when he burst upon the world stage, having overthrown the corrupt egyptian monarchy declaring, “the spirit behind the egyptian revolution is represented by the ideal of creating a new national consciousness in egypt, based on the staunch belief in democratic socialism and the fullest realization of social justice. ” nasser was a complex, contradictory figure, whose reign later came to include harsh repression of communists and other progressives, helping lay the seeds of many of the problems wracking the region today .
most important period of his rule and his greatest political achievement. the film depicts nasser’s dealings with his ministers, his working habits, his speeches, his relationships with members of the revolutionary council, also with his father, his wife and his four children .
the film sees as the most important period of his rule and his greatest political achievement. the film depicts nasser’s dealings with his ministers, his working habits, his speeches, his relationships with members of the revolutionary council, also with his father, his wife and his four children .
portrayed in this film by ahmed zaki, nasser was charismatic and bold. at the time he embodied the ambitions of the arab world in general and the egyptian people in particular. fortunately this film is not one of nationalistic bombast, but instead offers real insight, some occasionally comical, regarding the buildup to the so - called “suez crisis. ” in preparation for the daring step of nationalization, one thing nasser’s government had to do was examine if they even had the personnel capable of operating they canal once they got it, and this is well illustrated in the film .
a key scene takes place in nasser’s study late at night after he has learned of the world bank’s refusal to fund the aswan high dam. he takes the first of three calls from an old woman who is trying to reach her son in a rural village. her calls instead have been misdirected to the presidential residence. when in the third call nasser offers to contact her son himself she asks with whom she is speaking. upon learning it is the president she says, “may god grant you victory, my son. ” suddenly, a light ignites in his eyes as he makes the fateful decision to nationalize the canal .
nasser has long been a hero in the arab world. however, over the years many of his policies have been discredited, and his reputation tarnished. there are those who criticize his sympathetic portrayal in this film .
it shows him being kind and loving when we have read otherwise ,
scoffed one moviegoer .
western audiences will have to adjust to the more subtle, less in - your - face style of arab filmmaking. however, this is not to say that the film is in any sense boring. zaki’s portrayal of nasser as mild - mannered is because that is the way the charismatic egyptian president was in real life .
in the most poignant scene of the movie, an old woman presents nasser with the cloak which her grandfather was wearing when he died while digging the suez canal, saying that the egyptian president is not only avenging the death of her grandfather, but also the deaths of the thousands of egyptians who perished while building the canal .
during the summer of 1956, egypt under president gamal abdul nasser became embroiled in a conflict with great britain, france and israel over the decision by the egyptian leader to nationalize the suez canal in the wake of the refusal of the united states, and consequently the world bank, to fund the construction of the aswan high dam .
in summation, the film is a revealing portrait of the historical backdrop to the nationalization, the views of the arab world toward the west, and western treatment of the indigenous people of the region. the final scene showing nasser addressing his compatriots in a packed cairo mosque as british and french bombs rain down on their country is extremely moving .
the arab perspective from which this film was made is very much in evidence. to those whom he has picked to carry out the nationalization plan, nasser explains his reasoning that the united states and the world bank have denied funds for the dam in order to keep egypt from increasing its electricity supply and to condemn the country to backwardness and continued colonialism .
but in 1956 a crisis is brewing: britain and the u. s. have withdrawn their support of the aswan high dam project on the nile. nasser makes the bold decision to nationalize the suez canal (still run by the brits) to finance the dam with canal tolls, thus precipitating israel’s invasion of the sinai peninsula, and france and britain’s invasion of egypt. end of film .
director mohamed fadel and writer mahfouz abd al rahman, who shrewdly film in black and white so as to match vintage newsreel footage, present nasser (an effectively understated ahmad zaki) as a modest, selfless paragon dedicated to his nation' s self - determination and devoted to his family. they pull off the necessary trick of making suspenseful a pivotal incident, the outcome of which is part of modern world history .
as a slice of history filmed from an arab point of view, the film is fascinating. its insistence that 120, 000 egyptian workmen died building the suez canal, for instance, is a point worth making. but while local audiences identify with its pan - arab patriotism, other viewers are unlikely to find that side of the film emotionally exalting. at best, its uncritical glorification of nasser may rouse interest as a curiosity item .
gives an idea of what it means for a small middle eastern nation to dare to defy the world' s superpowers, the usa and its western allies in particular. that' s exactly what egypt' s then - president gamal abdel nasser did in july 1956, when he boldly orchestrated the nationalization of the suez canal, the construction of which had cost the lives of 120, 000 egyptians from a population of only 4 million a little more than a century earlier .
in general, the film is paced well to build the tension and examine the dynamics of the various intrigues – and there were plenty – associated with the event. a notable aspect of this narrative is the portrayal of each moment when nasser brings another confidant into the conspiracy. they react with a combination of pride and fear, uncertain of the outcome but resigned to taking the gamble. they are tapping into a deep reserve of resentment at the historical injustice and atrocious exploitation by the western powers that make up the history of the construction and operation of the canal .
this black - and - white reconstruction of a hugely important era in egypt’s history broke every egyptian box record when it came out there. with seamless integration of newsreel footage, the film reconstructs the period of 1956 when president gamal abdel nasser (ahmad zaki), a hero in the arab world, nationalized the strategically situated suez canal, the construction of which had cost 120, 000 egyptian lives when it was built during the previous century. an international crisis involving the us, israel, britain, and france ensued, but egypt retained control of the strategic waterway .
ahmad zaki was born on november 18, 1949 in zaqazeeq, egypt as ahmed abdullrahman zaki. he was an actor and producer, known for
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pic was made for tv but released in theaters, where its overwhelming success caught both producers and distribs unprepared. in its 142 - minute cut by director mohamed fadel and editor kamal abou al - ela, it still contains repetitions and ends abruptly, in the middle of an international crisis. the style of the pic, filmed in high - contrast b & w and scored with a one - motif music track featuring trumpets, irresistibly recalls american tv drama of the 1950s .
why the story should end before peace was restored (by the u. s. working through the u. n .) is a mystery, though a sequel could be on its way. though not a brilliant director, fadel creates some credible moments in re - enacting the crisis, and the b & w lensing allows him to integrate newsreel footage seamlessly. the takeover of the canal by the egyptian army is handled with fine dramatic flair and a lot of trumpets .
production: a union of egyptian radio & television production. (international sales: union of video & filmmakers co. , cairo .) directed by mohamed fadel. screenplay, mahfouz abdel rahman .
crew: camera (b & w), abdel latif fahmi, issam farid, ibrahim saleh; editor, kamal abou al - ela; music, yasser abdel rahman; sound, mike carter. reviewed at carthage film days, tunis, oct. 16, 1996. running time: 142 min .
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the film provides an insightful historic lens for viewing the revolutions that have catapulted across the arab world in the past year, and how palestinians and others are viewing and reacting to those events .
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some great reviews (by my sister gail) of some arab films playing at the museum of fine arts, boston this coming weekend. get on out there! urltoken
the boston palestine film festival is a program of the middle east charitable and cultural society inc. , a 501 (c) (3) organization .
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the black - and - white film depicts the tumultuous period of 1956 when the controversial leader stunned the world by seizing the canal from its european owners, and declared it egyptian property. (49 sec. / 2m quicktime movie )
the movie uses actual newsreel footage to illustrate the ensuing battle that pitted egypt against israel, britain and france. the superpowers suppressed the crisis, and egypt gained permanent control of the canal .
the egyptian youth are in search of a feeling of superiority and invincibility. the events surrounding the canal represent, for the youth, true heroism ,
said director mohamed fadel .
egyptians of all ages have embraced the movie, which delivers memories of a time when egypt was defiant and powerful. today, the country is beset by high unemployment and the lingering malaise of widespread poverty. the movie has broken every egyptian box - office record .
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as a slice of history filmed from an arab point of view, the film is fascinating .
—deborah young, variety
four stars: a lesson in history and good filmmaking .
—the star tribune
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this film is available from afd for public screenings and television broadcast. for information regarding rental rates and formats, please contact
select item dvd: $ 295. 00 dvd w / dsl: $ 595. 00
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palestinian cameramen targeted by israeli soldiers and settlers later: u. s. troops in baghdad kill palestinian cameraman
directed by mohamed fadel, arab film distribution, 1996, 140 mins. , b & w. ; list: $ 44. 95, aet: $ 39. 95 .
the film is in arabic with english subtitles. these are sometimes obscured by the black - and - white format in which the movie was filmed in order to blend with the historical footage of actual events used in the film. this, however, will not deter contemporary english - speaking audiences from fully enjoying this accurate portrayal of events from both a different time and a different point of view .
published to help provide the american public with balanced and accurate information concerning u. s. relations with middle eastern states.
nasser 56 is a 1996 egyptian historical film directed by mohamed fadel , starring ahmed zaki . the film focuses on the nationalization of the suez canal by egypt 's second president , gamal abdel nasser , and the subsequent invasion of egypt by israel , the united kingdom , and france . throughout the film , events are depicted from an egyptian nationalist viewpoint . the film 's star , ahmed zaki , subsequently portrayed nasser 's successor as president , anwar el-sadat , in the 2001 film days of sadat . 
nasser 56 is a 1996 egyptian historical film directed by mohamed fadel, starring ahmed zaki. the film focuses on the nationalization of the suez canal by egypt's second president, gamal abdel nasser, and the subsequent invasion of egypt by israel, the united kingdom, and france. throughout the film, events are depicted from an egyptian nationalist viewpoint. the film's star, ahmed zaki, subsequently portrayed nasser's successor as president, anwar el-sadat, in the 2001 film days of sadat.
nasser 56 is a 1996 egyptian historical film directed by mohamed fadel, starring ahmed zaki. the film focuses on the nationalization of the suez canal by egypt's second president, gamal abdel nasser, and the subsequent invasion of egypt by israel, the united kingdom, and france. throughout the film, events are depicted from an egyptian nationalist viewpoint. the film's star, ahmed zaki, subsequently portrayed nasser's successor as president, anwar el-sadat, in the 2001 film days of sadat.