Faten Hamama | WatchedThis
Faten Hamama
Acting
Biography
Faten Hamama (May 27, 1931 - January 17, 2015) was an Egyptian actress and producer. Dubbed "The Lady of the Arabic Screen", she was born in El Mansoura, Egypt. Her legendary journey started as a secret statement between a six-year-old girl and her father after they watched a film in their neighborhood theater, at which leading actress and producer Asya Dagher was present. Faten told her father that she felt the audience was applauding her as the leading actress, and her father hugged her with a vision of helping his daughter become a movie star. She won a contest for the most beautiful child in Egypt, and her dad sent her picture to director Muhammad Karim (a pioneer of Egyptian cinema). Karim was looking for a child for his new film with Egyptian musician Mohamed Abdel Wahab. Faten auditioned for and got a role in this movie, Yom said (1940) ("A Happy Day"). She impressed the filmmakers so much during shooting that she was actually given more lines and scenes in the picture than were scripted initially for her. Karim put her under contract, and four years later he gave her a role in a film with Mohamed Abdel Wahab again, Russassa fil Kalb (1944) ("A Bullet in the Heart"). With her third movie with Karim, Dunia (1946), Faten showed filmmakers and audiences alike that she was an actress ready for bigger roles. Her father, along with her family, moved to Cairo to help her in her career. She also began studying her craft at the High Institute of Acting in 1946. Faten left Egypt from 1966-1971 because she resisted the political pressure that was applied to her. She divided her time between Lebanon and London, England. During this period Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser asked some prominent critics and writers to try to persuade her to return to Egypt, saying that "Faten Hamama is a national treasure". Her return to Egypt in 1971 breathed life back into Egyptian cinema. She insisted that her films reflect the values of society through family relationships. Her first film upon return was Witch (a short film) with Salah Zulfikar. Her role in Emberatoriet Meem (1972) ("Empire M") as a widow with six children and the struggles she endured to raise them made the film a success both critically and financially, and she earned a special award from an organization in the Soviet Union when the film was shown at the Moscow International Film Festival. Her film Orid Hallan (1975) ("I Need a Solution") which was produced by Salah Zulfikar was not only a big hit but resulted in changes to Egyptian marriage and divorce laws. Faten Hamama is the fourth Pyramid in Egyptian cinema, a legend in her platinum anniversary, the diamond that remained shining and kept glowing over the decades on the silver screen.
Filmography Movies
Acting
I Am the Past
A man enters prison because of his brother-in-law and his mistress. After leaving prison, he searches for them to find them dead in a car accident. He marries their daughter to take revenge on her with the help of his sister. When she gives birth, he tries to stop his sister. He eventually kills his sister after accidentally hitting her.
The Lady of the House
Elham marries Nabil and moves to live with him in his mother's house. Her mother-in-law starts seeing Elham as an intruder while she's the lady of the house. When Elham didn't have kids, she wants Nabil to marry Elham's friend.
Orphans' money
A family whose breadwinner dies, leaving his wife and university-student daughter in the care of his son from his first wife. He treats them harshly and wastes their money - especially his sister's money, as he is her guardian - on his own pleasures. The mother and daughter are led by a kind family that takes her by the hand and curbs the son's ambitions.
Every house has a man
An archaeologist dies, leaving behind his wife and daughter alone. A handsome man, a representative of the Antiquities Authority, visits the house. The mother likes him and he likes her, and they exchange love. However, the girl also likes him and tries to woo him. However, she discovers that her mother likes him, so she revolts against her mother and accuses her of being disloyal to her deceased father. The young man tries to distract her from her hostility towards her mother.
Farewell My Love
This love story is about two young lovers who dream of getting married, but they get separated when the young man gets called for the military service and they lose contact. When the young girl marries an old military officer, the young man coincidentally gets assigned to work with her husband. Despite all the obstacles the two lovers have gone through, they decide to catch up with their past love. But when the old officer finds out what's going on between his wife and the young soldier, he decides to dramatically end their love relation.
Cup of torment
The events revolve around (Riyadh), who abandons his wife and their infant daughter (Nemat), who ends up in an orphanage after the death of her mother. When (Nemat) grows up and leaves the orphanage and marries (Mahmoud), the father sees her and falls in love with her without knowing that she is his daughter. The events unfold after he learns the truth and seeks to kidnap his grandson, (Nemat's) infant son.
Love and Tears
A dramatic love story about the daughter of a retired drunk fisherman and a marine officer.
Isalu kalbi
A wealthy girl falls in love with a famous actor, but her father refuses to complete the relationship out of respect for family traditions. The actor withdraws from her life out of respect for her family, and pretends to be in a relationship with a dancer. She leaves him and marries her cousin. The actor becomes addicted to alcohol, his condition deteriorates, and he leaves his job.
The Last Night
During 1942, Nadia Burhan lives with her mother in Alexandria, Fawzia lives with her husband Shaker, whom she married against her family's will. Nadia meets Salah and agree to get married. Fawzia dies from a German bombardment of the city, and Nadia has amnesia and Fawzia's husband tries to delude Nadia that she's Fawzia.
Production
Appointment with Life
Amal and her friend Fatima are happily in love with Ahmed and Dr. Mamdouh respectively. After it is discovered that Amal has a debilitating condition, her father attempts to keep it a secret.
A Tale Behind Every Door
(A tale behind every door) A television movie consisting of four short films, written by the great writer Tawfiq Al-Hakim and writer Katia Thabet, in each film a different problem is presented, and the four films starring Faten Hamama and different heroes, and they are, respectively: (Crazy position) starring Ahmed Ramzi, (I want to kill) starring Abu Bakr Ezzat and Safia Al-Omari, (the respected deputy) starring Ahmed Mazhar, and (guest at dinner) starring Jamil Ratib and Nadia Zulfiqar and Muhammad Al-Sabe, and each film talks about a specific social issue that occurs to a woman, and deals with each What happens to her.
Love and Tears
A dramatic love story about the daughter of a retired drunk fisherman and a marine officer.
House of Ants
A story of an unexpected encounter between an intellectual man immersed in philosophy and a mischievous spirit who suddenly appears before him. Through their conversations, she opens a door not to the world of mere myths, but to deep questions about mortality, knowledge, and the universe
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