Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story 2009

The titular heroine of 1001 Nights finds her 21st-century equivalent in popular TV presenter Hebba Younis, who hosts a daily talk show on Cairo TV. Pressured by her bosses (and ambitious husband) to be less confrontational in her dealings with politicians, she opts for a stealthier approach. She will feature human interest stories about ‘ordinary’ women. First off: a beautiful, educated, talented woman who has decided to remain a virgin because of the unacceptable restrictions demanded by any man who ever interested her. The subversive impact of the increasingly jaw-dropping tales of female subjugation Hebba draws into her spotlight inevitably arouses serious male hostility – just as 10,000 Facebookers condemned popular actress Mona Zakki for starring in this vivid, rousing film. — BG

“Yousry Nasrallah, one of Egypt’s greatest filmmakers, has crafted not only this year’s best Egyptian film so far, but one of the most important movies of the decade. A brilliantly provoking, fierce and audacious cinematic document about Egyptian women… Nasrallah and the film’s scriptwriter, Waheed Hamed, dabble in sex, politics, violence and social mores with a confident, unshaken pen… What Nasrallah essentially does is magnify these issues in a tightly controlled dramatic form, concluding with a strong statement neither direct nor preachy. There’s no uniformed message; just a stern picture of the reality of our times… Scheherazade is a film that Egypt thoroughly needs; a wake-up call to the sordid world our leaders, religious guides and fathers have created.” — Joseph Fahim, Daily News Egypt