info-00772

This is in some ways an interesting story, though very cliche and banal. Yearning for wild child sex frolics is not consious or sustainable. However, the comment I would like to make is about the physique of the heroine. She is playing a mother of two, with a child and a breastfeeding baby. When she strips naked, we see her tiny, stick-thin body, in reality created by starvation diets and hours in the gym. This is not the body of a mother. I am sorry. It is not. She has fake boobs (yes they are fake) and a pre-pubescent, disturbingly skinny belly. She ain't had no kids. Why is this portrayed to us as the body of an attractive woman? If they are creating a drama about a mum of two, yearning for her wild child past, then surely the actress should have a mum's body. She would have some curves, at least a slightly rounded belly, and hips. Women come in all shapes and sizes, but this is not right. And its not attractive on any level.

They are systematically attempting to destroy the feminine. GODDESSES HAVE CURVES.

I am always excited to see a film set in Luxor, and there were some beautiful shots and nice moments. I have to say, I agree with most of the reviews on here. This is a film where nothing happens. I've been watching a lot of Egyptian cinema, and this film is very un-Egyptian in that there is no passion, no intensity, no chemistry, no sizzle. I know this is the way the director wanted it to be. But for me it was disappointing. To say it is understated is- an understatement. We want to know the story between the lovers, what happened - we are never told it. Did they just give up on their love? When they meet again, where is the passion? Where is the feeling? Andrea Riseborough is playing the role of someone badly traumatised, and she plays it well. But Karim Saleh just seems smooth and American, I don't see the Egyptian character in him at all... not my experience of Egypt. A couple of things that really annoyed me: we are told, its pronounced Abide-os. NO! Its A-bid-os. How could they do that? And they neglect to mention its the place of Osiris. We don't hear the old lady's reading, which makes it seem as though traditional healers (of which there are many) are a waste of time. Not very respectful... I love all things Egyptian, but this is not it. These people seem cold, aloof, English and restrained. I found it quite frustrating.

This show is brilliant and highly addictive. Unusually for Arabic series, it doesn't focus on family but on individuals (the main character coming from a highly disfunctional family). The acting is superb and the characters fascinating. The message is powerful. Just watch it.