Thread: Watched Afrita Hanem starring Samia Gamal!

I ordered Afrita Hanem, starring Samia Gamal and Farid al-Atrache, from Netflix. I sat down with my 2 year old to watch it as soon as it came in the mail yesterday.

Now, let me preface this by saying that I'm already a fan of black and white 1940's and 1950's movies from Hollywood. So maybe I'm already favorably disposed toward the Golden Age. But I thought this movie was wonderfully funny and very, very, accessible. I was surprised to find that there really wasn't much of a culture gap- I was able to understand what the characters were doing and why they were doing it- and it made sense all the way through.

As for the dancing- wow! Things sure have changed. Samia just swans her movements around and it doesn't look so "technical" as many modern dancers do. I found myself concentrating less on the particular movements and just taking in her gracefulness as a complete picture.

I have to say that seeing her dance around Farid while he was singing and I could see the subtitled lyrics was really an eye-opener regarding dancing to the music.

If you've seen the classic movies with Bing Crosby as a smooth crooner and Bob Hope as comic relief, you'll recognize the same dynamic in Afrita Hanem.

It's on Netflix! Check it out!

I was lucky enough to watch it on the Big Screen! One of the London dancers organised a charity screening of it, a few months ago. It was basically the subtitled dvd. I loved Samia in it- she is so adorable in it!

There's nothing better than a vintage film on a big screen. You're so lucky!

LOL! You must have received it after me from Netflix, because I just watched it from them a couple of weeks ago! I also really enjoyed it, and found it really easy to understand. Samia was just SO cute when she was being "naughty" - I thought it was a GREAT film!!!

I love that movie. I wanted to use Kahramana as my dance name after that, but after using it once in a little troupe number and hearing the MC (one of the dancer's husband) butcher it, I decided to go for something shorter.

It just arrived from Netflix today - you must have just returned it!

Originally Posted by Nepenthe

It just arrived from Netflix today - you must have just returned it!

Luckily, I think they actually have multiple copies. Mine is sitting in my mailbox waiting to be picked up. :)

Don't miss getting "The Fabulous Samia Gamal"!

How fun, I love the beautiful Samia Gamal and B&W movies!!! Have been thinking of signing up with Netflix, now I have more incentive. Thanks for the review!

Originally Posted by Jungleflowers

As for the dancing- wow! Things sure have changed. Samia just swans her movements around and it doesn't look so "technical" as many modern dancers do. I found myself concentrating less on the particular movements and just taking in her gracefulness as a complete picture.

You know, I had the same reaction when I first started watching old film clips, that Samia Gamal was all swanning--glorious swanning, but somehow simpler dancing. I find though that the more I watch her (and the more training I myself have) the more there really is to see in her dancing. I think her gracefulness is deceptive in a way that makes you not realize quite how much she is doing.

Also, love the movie too ..g.:

Originally Posted by badriya_al_ahmar

I think her gracefulness is deceptive in a way that makes you not realize quite how much she is doing.

Exactly! The movements are so smoothly transitioned that you don't even see them as individual movements.

Must be my sleep deprivation - but I kept falling asleep! I'm only at the part where he had his big debut at his own opera house. So frustrating to not be able to stay awake as the music is great and the movie is entertaining. Already I learned so much about Egyptian gestures and the way people move.

I have it: watched with hubby and although he's more a Sly Stallone man, he loved it..very funny film and all that and Samia!

I gave it to a friend of mine for Christmas!

(I hope she invites me once to watch it....)