Prominent Egyptian actress Muna Zakki had recently participated in the 13th Damascus Film Festival with her latest movie “Sahar Al Layali” (Up All Night). The movie, directed by Hani Khalifa, was criticized because it was directed towards Egyptian values in an embedded but yet a polite way. The movie had won the prize of joint acting in the festival.
According to the Qatar based daily, Al Raya, Muna revealed in a personal interview that she only finds herself in the cinema, stressing that the cinema industry is a very important source of income for Egypt, and she wonders why this is not the case in other Arab countries? Muna went on to defend her film saying that it is not once that displays nudity or has sexual connotations.
Muna stressed that it was made into an international one because it contained human feelings that are expressed every where, and dealt with an issue that no other film in Arabic drama had ever dealt with. At the same time it did not provoke Arab public’s feelings, showing the talent of the director, because he was able to present bold issues without being rude. Syrian artist Abdul Min’im Amairi, husband of Syrian singer Asalah Nasri, had said that the scenes are so convincing and emotional that you cannot be shallow and concentrate on the looks of the actress or her body.
Muna adds that looks are not the main factor of success, but hard work and always striving to be better, besides being beautiful or ugly does not make one a good actor. The film had faced some crucial criticism accusing it of being too provocative and promoting American culture or products.
Muna notes that the cinema is for all kinds of people; cinema is affection, and magic, and that there is a special atmosphere when one goes to see a movie, the lighting, sharing the view with a crowd, the big screen and the sound effects. These days, movies are making high profits exceeding six or even twenty million EGP. There was a time during the eighties when the cinema was not getting profits at all.
Zaki has accepted an offer for the leading role in the new television drama series “Amout Habba” (A Slow Death), after being away from the small screen for over two years. Muna’s last appearance on television was in the drama series “Juha Al Masri” alongside Egyptian actors Yahia Al Fakharani and Lucy.
Muna will be playing the role of young country girl who falls in love with a man, but is faced with many obstacles due to the fact that her family refuses their union. The series written by Mohammad Safa Amer and directed by Mohammad Khan will costar Khaled Al Nabawi and a large number of new faces.
Zaki and her husband Ahmad Hilmi had announced the coming of their first newborn baby girl into the world in August, surprising everyone at the news of delivery since she was not due for another two months. –Albawaba.com
