I am free, or "Ana Hura", Is a beautifully shot and lighted motion picture, filmed in 1958- only six years after the officer's revolution in Egypt. The film deals successfully with the shift in Egyptian values and power- from a westernized, culturally occupied state, where the goal was to be as British like as possible- to a fresh national view of the self as liberator.
The narrative is simple and powerful- Lubna Abdel Aziz is a young girl being brought up by her rigid aunt and uncle. Their notions as to how a women should act and what choices she had to take in her life, drive her to rebellion: she refuses marriage and insists on going to college, all that time claiming: "I Am Free!". Her family tries to reason with her but with little success. But as freedom takes its westernized, career-oriented form, our heroin starts feeling a little uneasy- She gets what she wanted - and now what? Now the conflict over "what freedom means" starts bothering her, even in her dreams. I will not give in the ending, and only wish to add that Lubna Abdel Aziz gives a strong, Courageous Performance, and has the most interesting face I've ever seen on the Egyptian screen.
The film is directed by Salah Abu Saif. This film works - You better watch it!
The narrative is simple and powerful- Lubna Abdel Aziz is a young girl being brought up by her rigid aunt and uncle. Their notions as to how a women should act and what choices she had to take in her life, drive her to rebellion: she refuses marriage and insists on going to college, all that time claiming: "I Am Free!". Her family tries to reason with her but with little success. But as freedom takes its westernized, career-oriented form, our heroin starts feeling a little uneasy- She gets what she wanted - and now what? Now the conflict over "what freedom means" starts bothering her, even in her dreams. I will not give in the ending, and only wish to add that Lubna Abdel Aziz gives a strong, Courageous Performance, and has the most interesting face I've ever seen on the Egyptian screen.
The film is directed by Salah Abu Saif. This film works - You better watch it!