The Egyptian controversial director Enas al Deghaidi is currently gearing up for her new film Shallalat Viagara (Viagara Falls) which she describes as political comedy. She anticipates that the new film will spark big fuss because it tackles an important issue.
The director has aroused violent reactions among the audience and critics with her hot film’s hot scenes, which caused resentment among many people. These films include Dantells, al Wardah al Hamra (Red Rose) and Muthakkarat Murahiqa (Adolescent Memoirs). Some observers considered her last film as an insult to the Egyptian girl, which spurred one of the viewers to file a lawsuit against her.
Despite all of this, Deghaidi insists on her style in tackling the cinema issues raising the banner of challenge.
“The reaction to the film is very good and this is evidenced by the large revenues it generated and the large number of people who saw it. The film doesn’t in any way insult the woman as the one who filed the case claims. She did not see the film but filed the suit against me because I said in a press conference that most adolescent girls commit corruption. I meant that there are many prohibited acts, which a girl may violate. Why didn’t they oppose the artwork, which I offer, as long as they have the right to express their own views? Anyhow, they provide free publicity for the film. I am fully with the Egyptian girl and my film confirms the faulty situation we live as we have double standards and hypocrisy. I reject judging an artwork according to moral standards but rather according to artistic standards and the importance of the issue tackled,” the director told the daily al Gomhuria.
She pointed out, “hot scenes in my films constitute a style through which I depict my thoughts and my way of direction. But this is limited to only one or two scenes and when I tackle sex, it will be about the characteristics of the character and part of its very special relations. I should, as a director, depict all aspects of the character in order to show it properly as psychologists do. Freud, for example, attributed all human behavior to sex and yet we respect him very much.”
Regarding the death threat she received, Deghaidi said, “I received lists of the names, which some terrorist organizations threatened to kill, and my name was on these lists. I do not fear death because I believe that I do not do anything wrong. Death is my destiny, so why should I fear it as long as I have faith in what I do?” – Albawaba.com
