New Egyptian film promotes unity

When the lives of Mustafa (Omar Sharif), a Muslim Shaikh or cleric and Boulus (Adel Imam) a Coptic Christian, who play moderates in the film, are threatened by religious extremists from both communities, the Egyptian Government inducts them into a protection programme that requires them to disguise themselves as the Christian Markos (Omar Sharif) and a Muslim Shaikh, Hassan Al Attar (Adel Imam). The movie targets extremists from both religions, an issue that is rarely highlighted. It seeks to portray how both Muslims and Coptic Christians (who are estimated to make up 10 per cent of the Egyptian population) perceive each other and how they both share the same views about one another.

Blame game

In the movie, in an attempt to build unity and love between the two religious sections, the Egyptian Government, including clerics and priests, hold an annual convention for Muslim-Christian dialogue.

The viewer is shown how the clerics and priests, on their way to the convention, complain about their political and economic status. Dissatisfied, they blame each other for sectarian discrimination.

Ironically these same clerics and priests are seen holding hands and cheering for unity at the convention.

A Muslim-Christian encounter

There is a poignant use of sarcasm throughout the movie, as both Markos and Hassan are forced to remain undercover and temporarily exchange religions. Fate joins them and their families in one building occupied by Christians, where Markos had not been welcome earlier as a Muslim.

However, now both Adel Imam and Omar Sharif believe they come from the same religion. They become friends, even open a joint business and soon their children fall in love, unhindered by religious restraints.

However, once hit by reality the two families instantly become hostile towards one another. Even, the young couple in love split up because they are unable to overcome the prejudices with which they had been brought up.

Show of strength

The movie ends with a show of unity. After a bloody quarrel between the Coptic Christians and Muslims residents of a small town, the two families choose to face the grudges and hostility both groups hold against each other.

Just like all Adel Imam's movies, the framework is comic, targeting stereotypes mainly in the country and in the Arab world. According to Imam, the film's goal is to bring the sectarian strife to the fore and to promote unity between both sides.

An angry audience

The movie stirred anger among many Egyptians and Muslims, who felt the film was an exaggerated representation of Muslims, and thus a distorted image of themselves.

Criticism against Adel Imam comes at a time of clashes between the two religious divisions in Egypt. Moreover, the Muslim actor has been accused of preaching and promoting Christianity through his portrayal of Boulus.

Some bloggers even called for Muslims and Arabs to boycott the movie. Notwithstanding, Adel Imam and Omar Sharif fans will most certainly watch it.