The Egyptian Film "Al-Sitt" About Umm Kulthum's Life Dominates Social Media Talk Before Its Release

The production team of the Egyptian film "Al-Sitt" (The Lady) had barely released the promotional trailer for the film—which portrays the life of the "Star of the East," Umm Kulthum, played by Egyptian actress Mona Zaki—before social media platforms were flooded with diverse opinions.

1. Film Details and Core of the Controversy

• Creative Team: A cinematic vision written by Ahmed Mourad and directed by Marwan Hamed. The cast includes stars like Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Sayed Ragab, Amr Saad, and Ahmed Dawood, with Karim Abdel Aziz, Ahmed Helmy, and Nelly Karim as guest stars.

• Release Date: December 10th.

• Main Dispute: Centers on the resemblance between Mona Zaki and Umm Kulthum, especially compared to the 1999 TV series "Umm Kulthum," in which actress Sabreen played the role.

• Critics' View: Amani Emad commented that Mona Zaki's appearance was unsuccessful, noting that "neither the makeup, the appearance, nor the voice managed to bring her closer to Umm Kulthum." Ehab Ahmed Tawfik noted that advancements in technology should have made it easier to achieve a "reasonable degree of resemblance."

• Defenders' View:

  • Wael El-Samry: Said that the issue of resemblance is not of great importance, calling for respect for the artistic work depicting the life of "the greatest artist in our contemporary history."

  • Ahmed Mourad (Scriptwriter): Defended the choice, saying the role requires a capable actress and does not rely solely on looks. He confirmed Mona Zaki was chosen for her "acting capabilities" and her mastery of "portraying Umm Kulthum’s emotions."

2. Artistic Background

• Previous Works: The 1999 series "Umm Kulthum," starring Sabreen, is the most notable previous work. Umm Kulthum herself participated in the film "Fatma" (1947).

• Film Goal: "Al-Sitt" aims to present a different cinematic approach using contemporary visual language and modern techniques in cinematography, makeup, and historical documentation, moving away from the traditional style.

• About Umm Kulthum: Nicknamed the "Lady of Arabic Song" and the "Star of the East" (born 1910). Her career spanned decades, including monthly live radio concerts, and she sang for the war effort after the 1967 defeat.