Renowned Egyptian screenwriter Wahid Hamed allocated three million pounds for producing the new film Ibrahim Al Abiad (the White Ibrahim) to be directed by his son Marwan as his debut in directing long narrative films.
“Costarring in the satiric comedy are Ahmed Al Saqqa, Yasmin Abdel Aziz and Omar Waked who played the staring role in Marwan’s short narrative film Li Li,” the screenwriter told the London-based daily Al Sharq Al Awsat.
However, Marwan Hamed has caught the eyes after directing the film Li Li which is based on prominent Egyptian writer Yousef Edris’ novel “Akan La Bud Ya Li li An Tudie Al Noor” (Li… Li, Did you have to Put the Light on?).
The Western Audience award-winning film at the 13th International Claremont Verne Festival, has been viewed by Muslim scholars at Al Azhar as looking down upon Islamic clerics.
The film is about religious issues in Batiniyyah, where drug sale formerly took place in broad daylight. The main character, Ahmed, played by Amar Waked, is appointed preacher and muezzin, and finds himself spurred to guide the neighborhood residents, particularly the drug overlord’s father. He also guides the most charming girl in the area, Lee Lee (played by Dina), who fascinates everybody except Ahmed.
The sheikh fails in his mission and is confronted by the drug overlord’s father. But the most difficult task he faces is the temptation of the girl, which he tries to avoid but fails. At one point, he cannot make the call to prayer because the girl is tempting him from her room overlooking the minaret. In another incident, he fails to pray as an imam in the mosque, because her image distracts him. Finally, the sheikh asks God for forgiveness and succeeds in overcoming her domination of his thoughts and feelings.
Li Li also won the second price in the short narrative film contest at the 5th Ismailia Film Festival -- Albawaba.com
