The Mummy (The Night of Counting the Years)
Year:
1969
Running time:
102 mn
Nationality:
Egypt
Language:
Arabic
Genre:
Drama
Director:
Shadi Abd al-Salam
Producer:
General Egyptian Cinema Organisation, Merchant Ivory Production
Screenwriter/s:
Shadi Abd al-Salam
Cast:
Ahmad Marei, Ahmad Hegazi, Zouzou Al-Hakim, Nadia Lutfi, and Ahmad Anan
Summary of the film
In Cairo, in the late 19th century, French Egyptologist Gaston Maspero notices that the Pharaonic tombs near Thebes have been looted and that the black-market trade in ancient artefacts has resumed in a major way. At the same time, in the mountains of Deir el-Bahari, Wannis succeeds his father as head of the Horabat tribe and discovers that his people have been living from looting tombs for centuries, whose locations only they know about. Determined to put an end to this destruction of the national cultural heritage, he turns to Westerners for help. (Filmaffinity)
Egyptian artefacts stolen from an inviolate Egyptian tomb in Al-Mumiya (Screenshot by the author)
Wanis witnesses Egyptian tomb being looted (Screenshot by the author)
Egyptomania narratives or motifs
The plot revolves around authentic historical occurrences in Southern Egypt during 1881, specifically focusing on the unveiling of pharaohs’ tombs in Luxor region by Egyptian mountain tribe called “Horabat”, descendants of grave robbers, who have been clandestinely looting pharaonic tombs for generations. However, when the youngest member of the family, a boy named Wanis, begins to question the morality of their actions, the family's way of life is thrown into turmoil.
Wanis struggles with the ethical implications of desecrating the graves of his ancestors and their historical treasures. As he grapples with his conscience, he becomes increasingly drawn to the idea of preserving Egypt's heritage rather than destruction.
This internal conflict drives the narrative forward as Wanis navigates the complexities of loyalty to his family and respect for his cultural heritage. Themes of identity, tradition, and the clash between modernity and ancient heritage permeate the narrative, inviting audiences to reflect on the significance of preserving cultural legacy. Through stunning cinematography, it captures the mystique and grandeur of ancient Egypt while also examining the moral dilemmas faced by the characters.
The Mummy (Al-Mumiya: Yawm an tuhsa al-sinin, in arabic) masterfully incorporates Egyptomania into the film's visual motifs, showcasing elaborate hieroglyphs, intricate burial chambers, and ornate artifacts. These elements evoke a sense of mystery and fascination surrounding ancient Egyptian civilization, drawing viewers deeper into the narrative.
Wanis struggles with the ethical implications of desecrating the graves of his ancestors and their historical treasures. As he grapples with his conscience, he becomes increasingly drawn to the idea of preserving Egypt's heritage rather than destruction.
This internal conflict drives the narrative forward as Wanis navigates the complexities of loyalty to his family and respect for his cultural heritage. Themes of identity, tradition, and the clash between modernity and ancient heritage permeate the narrative, inviting audiences to reflect on the significance of preserving cultural legacy. Through stunning cinematography, it captures the mystique and grandeur of ancient Egypt while also examining the moral dilemmas faced by the characters.
The Mummy (Al-Mumiya: Yawm an tuhsa al-sinin, in arabic) masterfully incorporates Egyptomania into the film's visual motifs, showcasing elaborate hieroglyphs, intricate burial chambers, and ornate artifacts. These elements evoke a sense of mystery and fascination surrounding ancient Egyptian civilization, drawing viewers deeper into the narrative.
Author: Nagwa Bakr
Other information
Colla, E. 2000. Shadi Abd al-Salam’s al-Mumiya: Ambivalence and the Egyptian Nation-State, in Ali Abdullatif Ahmida (ed.) Beyond Colonialism and Nationalism in the Maghrib: History, Culture and Politics: 109-143. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
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Johnston, J.J. 2013. Rewriting History: Shadi Abdel Salam’s The Night of Counting the Years, in A.M. Dodson, J.J. Dodson, W. Monkhouse (eds) A Good Scribe and an Exceedingly Wise Man: Studies in Honour of W.J. Tait: 168-176. London: Golden House Publications.
Open access
Rumaih Mustafa, Abdel Hamid. 2020. The mummy as a model of Shadi Abdel Salem’s vision of Egyptian identity. Faculty of Art Education, Helwan University, Research in Art Education and the Arts 21: 47 (in arabic).
Open access
Rafaelic, D. 2021. Ancient Egypt in Cinema, in A. Bednarski, A. Dodson, S. Ikram (eds), A History of World Egyptology: 485. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
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