Prominent Egyptian actress Laila Elwi has won an award for Best Actress for her role as a Christian wife in the film “Bahib El Cima” (I Love the Cinema) at the Eleventh National Film Festival in Egypt. Laila played the role of the wife of a cruel man who abuses her constantly.
According to the London based, Elaph, the film, which had received many criticism since its screening, won most of the awards at the festival. The film caused endless commotion in Egypt, and was the main topic of a press conference held during the events of the First International Dubai Film Festival. The film was screened at the festival in the presence of its leading actress Laila alone.
Laila stressed that the film features people from different cultures and religious backgrounds, and does not offend anyone directly or indirectly. She added that it merely displays struggles different individuals encounter when faced with desires that lead them to committing different sins. She added that the film tackles the issue of power whether political or at home and how individuals deal with the different powers that are imposed on them.
Lawsuits have been filed against the film since it was screened during the summer season. The film had failed to achieve the desired profit levels due to the controversy it caused and criticism it attracted.
The most recent lawsuit has been filed by Coptic lawyer Nabil Gabriel Natheer, a founding member of Egypt’s Lawyers Association. Gabriel is demanding that the film be banned from screening at any film festivals as it deals with Christian issues that have not ben approved by the church. The lawyer is also demanding financial compensation of 10 million Egyptian pounds and an official apology from the makers of the film to the Egyptian Coptic Church.
