Cinema
Laila
ليلى
Aziza Amir · 1927
Synopsis
Laila lives in an oasis near Memphis and becomes engaged to Ahmed. Pregnant by him, she sees him abandon her for a Brazilian tourist. Rejected by her own people, she must also endure the advances of the wealthy Raouf Bey, according to Masrawy. The film follows the young woman alone against her community and those who claim to protect her.
Context
The film was to be called “L'Appel du Seigneur”. The Turk Wedad Orfi presented the project and began playing Ahmed in it before being dropped; Aziza Amir, producer and performer, took charge of the direction with Stephan Rosti, according to Masrawy, while the direction is also credited to Rosti and Orfi. Shooting took place at the pyramids, at Saqqara and in the streets of Cairo, and the film stock was developed in the producer's house in Garden City. The premiere took place on 16 November 1927, in the presence of Talaat Harb and Ahmed Shawqi.
Who it is for
A silent black-and-white feature film, known mostly through film history; it is not shown in cinemas.
Prizes and reception
The first Egyptian feature film, hailed at its premiere as a success that men had not managed to achieve.
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