“Looking for Umm Kulthum” is likely to surface on the festival circuit later this year. It is produced by Berlin-based Razor Film in tandem with Austria’s Coop 99; Italy’s Vivo Films and In Between Arts; Morocco’s Agora Films; and Lebanon’s Shortcut Films, with the support of the Doha Film Institute. It was shot in Morocco and Austria.



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Looking for Oum Kulthum

SYNOPSIS

Mitra, an ambitious artist, mother and wife in her late 40s, embarks on her lifelong dream of making a film about her hero, the legendary singer of the Arab World, Oum Kulthum. Her film’s central aim is to explore the struggles, sacrifices and the price of Oum Kulthum’s success as a female artist living in a conservative male dominated society.

Mitra herself achieved fame and success abroad, but her career choices made it impossible to return home, which separated her from her son and family.

The increasing difficulties of capturing Oum Kulthum’s essence as a myth, a woman, and an artist lead Mitra to have a complete breakdown.

Now Ghada, an exceptionally gifted actress and singer playing the role of Oum Kulthum, comes to Mitra’s rescue, as she is connected to the core of life and femininity and is naturally wise. Through this Mitra achieves self-realisation and an artistic breakthrough.

CAST

Neda Rahmanian
Yasmin Raeis
Mehdi Moinzadeh
Kais Nashif

CREW

Director Shirin Neshat

Script Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azari

DoP Martin Gschlacht

Production Design Erwin Prib
Costume Design Mariano Tufano
Sound Claus Benischke-Lang
Editing Nadia Ben Rachid
Producers Roman Paul, Gerhard Meixner, Bruno Wagner, Martin Gschlacht, Antonin Svoboda, Shirin Neshat, Shoja Azari