Egypt shuts down production of film that ‘promotes’ Israel ties

Director denies claims, says film is meant to promote peace and cooperation among all people regardless of sex, race and religion.
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Egypt’s censor has stopped production of an Egyptian film because it reportedly promotes the normalization of relations with Israel, according to the Al-Ahram newspaper.

The film, called “A Loaf of Bread,” was written and directed by Mohamed Kenawy, who denied the accusation, saying the film is meant to promote peace and cooperation among all people regardless of sex, race and religion.

The story revolves around an Egyptian, a Palestinian and an Israeli, and it deals generally with life in the Arab world. The movie had been in production for two months before filming was halted.

Egyptian artists and writers have often dealt with the issue of normalization with Israel – usually by decrying it. Many Egyptian writers and actors vocally boycott Israel, and even before the country’s revolution last year there were frequent calls by Egyptian intellectuals to avoid any kind of normalization.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian national broadcasting company decided recently to help fund a film by a Tunisian director that deals with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and particularly with what the Egyptian media calls “Palestinian resistance.”

That film, “Kingdom of the Ants,” is directed by Shawqi al-Majri, who said he was inspired to make the movie after seeing Palestinian funerals and the destruction of Palestinian cemeteries by “the Zionists.”

The film cost $1.5 million and is expected to premiere in 10 Arab countries simultaneously in September.

The filming was shot mostly in Tunis, though parts were also shot in Syria. One of the sets in Tunis was an area full of caves; the movie deals with Palestinian activists involved in digging smuggling tunnels, along with fighting Israel.

Al-Majri said the tunnels have become lively places where great friendships have been forged.

“The film moves between two worlds – the outside world, above ground, and that underneath,” he said.

 
 

Egypt shuts down production of film that ‘promotes’ Israel ties

Director denies claims, says film is meant to promote peace and cooperation among all people regardless of sex, race and religion.
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