Fathi Nofal Imam, an unknown but no-nonsense attorney with a taste for liquor and loose women, is assigned to take a case related to one of the local politicians. The story centers on his representation of Samira, a woman up on prostitution charges. His opponent is the Islamist lawyer Ali and both of them face a stern Muslim judge. Despite formidable obstacles, the clever Imam is able to work the crooked justice system and use religion to free Samira, after which he becomes a personal adviser for the local politician.

Outwardly presented as a light comedy, the film contains serious dramatic undertones that can be taken as a condemnation of corrupt politics and religious extremism. Written by Midhat Eladl and starring the popular Egyptian actor Adel Emam and the famous actress Youssra. Featured at the 1995 Cairo International Film Festival.

According to Andrew Hammond, author of Popular Culture in the Arab World, “In 1995 Egyptian actress Yousra was taken to court over a scene in Tuyur al-zalam (‘Birds of Darkness’) because her bare legs offended an Islamist fundamentalist sheikh, Yousef al-Bardri.” Known for pushing the boundaries of Egyptian cinema, director Sherif Arafa has said of this film: “The idea of terrorism and the government that’s in Tuyur Al-Zalam (Birds of Darkness) had to be expressed at the time. We were not just talking about the ‘opportunists’ of terrorism, there were government opportunists as well, and they are both equally dangerous. And both are terrorists. And the conflict between them will ruin the country. So be careful.”

764MB | 1h 51mn | 704×432 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/894F7994807C5B7/birds.of.darkness.mkv

Language:Arabic
Subtitles:English

The post Sherif Arafa – Tuyoor al-Zalam AKA Birds of Darkness (1995) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

When the lives of Sheikh Mahmoud, a Muslim preacher (played by Omar Sharif), and Boulos, a Christian priest (played by Adel Emam), are threatened by religious extremists on both sides, the Egyptian government inducts them into a witness protection program that requires them to disguise themselves as the Christian Marcus and the Muslim Sheikh Hassan, in a reversal of their religious identities. When they unwittingly move into the same building, a friendship blossoms that must, along with a romance between their respective children, withstand the difficulties of prejudice and social persecution. The film addresses issues of religious extremism, intolerance and sectarian violence, and emphasizes the possibility of friendship and love between members of different religions.

Being the long awaited first collaboration between Adel Emam and Omar Sharif, arguably the most powerful actors in Egyptian cinema and the Middle East in general, Hassan and Marcus was a much-anticipated summer 2008 blockbuster. However, its message proved so controversial that Facebook groups sporting Adel Emam’s picture in Coptic Christian garb called for a boycott of his movies, and the resulting emotional distress is reported to have prompted Imam to move from his home in Cairo to a summer house in Porto Marina, a resort on Egypt’s North Coast. Emam, Sharif and other collaborators on the film have vehemently defended its content and criticized many conservatives and religious extremists who consider it blasphemous.

1.76GB | 1 h 54 min | 1013×570 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/DA18DA863BC6283/Hassan.and.Marcus.2008.DVDRIP.x264.AC3.KJNU.mkv

Language:Arabic
Subtitles:English

The post Rami Imam – Hassan wa Morcus AKA Hassan and Marcus (2008) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Tahseen loves his girlfriend Mona but her controlling and domineering mother Zareefa is against their marriage and believes her daughter deserves a better suitor than him. When the mother drowns in an unexpected accident, the wedding of Tahseen and Mona takes place shortly after the funeral, and Mona’s father Ashour plans to wed his old time lover Zoba. However, Zareefa’s ghost appears in front of Tahseen who is the only person that can see her as she forces him to divorce Mona at once, but he refuses to do so and her presence causes more problems to the people who thought they were rid of her.

1.78GB | 1 h 56 min | 747×576 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/1D3357AE77B351D/Forbidden.on.the.Wedding.Night.1975.DVDRIP.x264.AC3.KJNU.mkv

Language:Arabic
Subtitles:English, French

The post Hasan El-Saifi – Mamnou Fi Laylat El-Dokhla AKA Forbidden on the Wedding Night (1975) first appeared on Cinema of the World.