Hussein Kamal – Emberatoriet meem AKA Empire M (1972)

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Mona, a well off widow and working mother, is struggling to raise her six children of different ages ranging from elementary school to university graduating students and all with names beginning in ‘M.’ When she decides to bring home a new husband, she faces a number of challenges. One of the best loved Egyptian classics, on the surface ‘Empire of M’ is a family drama but beneath this story is a call for political liberalism and women’s rights during the Sadat era. The film is based on a novel by Ihsan Abd al-Qudus (‘The Belly Dancer and the Politician’), adapted for the screen by the Egyptian Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz, and features Hussein Kamal (‘The Virgin and the White Hair’) directing a cast led by ‘the First Lady of Arab Cinema’ Faten Hamama (‘The Nightingale’s Prayer’) in an award winning role. Also starring Ahmed Mazhar (‘El Nasr Salah El Dine’) and Dawlad Abiad (‘The White Rose’). Produced by Murad Ramses Nagib with scenario by Mustafa Samy and Kawser Haikel, cinematography by Wahid Farid, set design by Nehal Nahjat, and montage by Rasheeda Abdel Salam.