Published: 8 February 2013
Region: Worldwide
Odd, a short movie supported by the Media diversity Institute, has been shown at numerous international festivals before it is launched for the public. MDI has contributed to the making of this short movie that deals with co-existence of Christian minority within largely Islamic society in Egypt.
It is felt that often the relationships between different ethnic and religious groups appear peaceful on the surface whilst harbouring hidden power dynamics. The film gives voice to those who chose to remain silent in order to fit the society.
The author of the movie is Karim Al Shennawy, an award-winning documentary director who has just finished his MA degree at Goldsmith College, University of London. His filmography includes projects for BBC, Aljazeera, international organizations such as UN Women and private production companies. Thematically his film projects focus on identity, minorities and diversity.
Before leaving London and going back to Cairo, Karim has visited MDI offices and shared his opinion on the current situation in Egypt and the way Egyptian media portray the minorities in most of the cases.
What is specific for the short movie Odd is that it does not deal with the problem of diversity in Egyptian society in the stereotypical way.
“Film industry in Egypt reproduces the stereotypes. That means that Christians in Egypt are portrayed either as victims or with the comic elements”, says Karim Al Shennawy.
His short film Odd not only that treats the problem of minorities but, as Karim explains, it treats a problem of a man with minority background in the male dominated society.
Odd tells a story about a Christian Egyptian who goes back home to find that his neighbours have just fixed the elevator. They invite him to try it for the first time. Once the elevator starts to move, a pre-recorded Islamic prayer comes out from the speakers inside it to the surprise and shock of the movie’s main character.
The director of Odd explains that the fact that his character is silent through the movie shows, not only that he is a minority, but also that he is a man in the male dominated society.
Discrimination with No Intention
“Some could think that person who discriminates is aware of that. But the problem with the minorities in Egypt is much deeper because people are discriminating without knowing it, with no intentions”, says Karim Al Shennawy.
He is very critical of the current main tendencies in Egyptian art and culture.
As Karim elaborates, Egypt has moved from demonising Mubarak to the very aggressive narrative on revolution.
“We are witnessing another hegemonic narrative in Egyptian art that does not allow any questions, a narrative that insults people who just doubt a revolution. News make our agenda, it is all about the news. Therefore you have novels written with no value if something changes in the news after 7 days”, says Karim Al Shennawy.
His next film is about migration and disposition. Its working title is “Diaspora” and it is about Egyptian couple that immigrates to the UK after the revolution. “Diaspora”, as explained by Karim, young and perspective film maker, focuses on the problem of identity.