The renowned Egyptian director, Atef Salem, died at the age seventy-five at a hospital in Cairo after years of sickness. The late director launched his film career with an acting debut in the film Magda, before getting involved in directing.
His directorial debut as a third rate director came in 1953 in a film called Al Herman (Deprivation), starring the kid actress at the time; Fairouz (not the present day singer). His successful debut made a him necessary assistant to the country's top directors during Egypt's "Golden Era of Cinema", from which he gained his experience and independence to produce many renouned films such as Yawm Min Umri (A Day of My Life) co-starring Abdel Halim Hafez and Zubaidah Tharwat. Other sucesses include films he involved the Egyptian Noble Prize-winning writer Naguib Mahfouz, such as Jaalouni Mujreman (They Made Me A Criminal), Al Namroud (What a Moody Person!), Ehna al Talamthah (We The Students) and Khan Al Khalili. He also directed the film Umm al A’rousah (The Bride's Mother) which got Emad Hamdi and Tahiyyah Karioka together for the first time, in addition to Ayna A’kli (Where is My Mind), Al Nimr Al Aswad (Black Tiger) and Siraa’Fi al Wadi (Conflict in the Valley).
Salem was also active with other work including National Anniversaries and holidays, and most prominently the July 23 celebrations that brought about short films with nationalistic and patriotic themes, including Gunood al Thalam (Soldiers of Darkness), Al Kulliyah Al Harbiyyah (Military Academy), Al Rimal al Kahdraa (Green Sands), Fagr Gadid (New Dawn), Al Sadd Al A’li (The High Dam) and Thawrat al Yemen (The Yemeni Revolution).
Salem was known to have directed his most recent work, Fares Thahr al Khail (Knight of Horseback), co-starring Muna Zaki and Ezzat Abu Awf, from the mercy of his wheelchair. He was seventy five years old. — Albawaba.com
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
