The highly praised director dives back into his ethnic history through an imaginative and challenging, yet relatable, narrative. Sherif Arafa explains El Kenz and how he crafted and directed a story about a girl in pursuit of her treasures.

CWM: You initially envisioned the story behind El Kenz, how did it first come about?

The story initially came from Abdulrahim Kamal about a girl who inherited a home and inside the home, she dreams of Hatsheput who leads her to her treasures. The return to our origins and exploring our history was on my mind, and I developed the story of the film to involve several characters and a narrative style that is depicted in the film.

The story around three different eras in time, what were the challenges you faced as a director dealing with such different time periods?

The first challenge was the budget, due to the enormous cost these types of productions usually incur. The truth is, the producer Walid Sabry was very enthusiastic and eager, which helped a lot. The second challenge was executing the on-set production, due to all the different locations needed to make the story believable and of course, the vast costume design needed to pull off all the different looks from different eras. However, there was always an underlying motive to create a unique film that shows viewers a side of history they may have never seen on screen before, and the intersecting and overlapping storylines that are woven through time.

Love and power are the underlying themes throughout the two films. Why were these themes so important?

Love and power are always at odds. A strong and powerful person faced with conflict also faces another conundrum of whether to follow his heart or his mind. Which does he follow? Which would he sacrifice? And if he sacrificed love, what will be the consequences? And what is our destiny when we ultimately sacrifice love?

What were the most challenging scenes to film?

I found the scenes that are supposed to convey emotions and affection the hardest to shoot, but luckily, the cast supported me a lot with their talent and enthusiasm.

Mohamed Hefzy, the screenwriter for Ras El Sanna, aims to encourage his audiences to forget negativity and focus on togetherness. Hefzy answers questions about his participation in the creation of such a film. 

CWM: How did the idea for Ras Al Sanna come about?

The idea behind Ras Al Sanna comes from my realization that the ultra-rich segment of Egyptian society is often misrepresented in film and often come across as cliché. I wanted to tell a story where characters from the opposite sides of the spectrum come together on one night in a climatic moment that changes people’s perceptions of themselves. I find that Egypt is a country with a dying middle class, and I believe the middle class is what gives the country its identity and its core values. For that reason, our society has found itself with very extreme, opposed, and conflicting core values and somebody had to talk about that.

What are you hoping the audience will take away from the film?

I hope audiences won’t turn on each other and be angry with one another, and I hope they see there is hope that we can live as one society despite all our differences.

How did the casting choices affect the final outcome of the film?

I wanted to create a cast with both stars and upcoming actors that can fit the unique characters represented in the film. It’s an ensemble cast with 9 or 10 main characters, so it was interesting because often the young up-and-comers ended up with more screen time than the bigger stars!

CWM: Tell us about your character and your views on the film.

Rania’s biggest wish in life is for people to let her be, to stop being judgmental and spreading rumors. She strives for acceptance, for who she is as a person, regardless of her actions. The film is not only about conflicts between different socio-economic segments of society, it’s also sheds light on internal conflicts people face themselves. I think the movie is a bit shocking, but I think it’s necessary to shock audiences and give them a dose of reality. The film discusses the duality that exists in judging people, why would you judge others for actions you or your own may do yourselves? I believe it confronts hypocrisy.

What do you hope audiences take away from the movie?

I hope each and every person who watches it takes something away from watching the film, whether it’s an intentional message in the film or not. I like leaving the judgment to the viewers, I wouldn’t impose on them. I’m happy enough to let the movie do the work.

Any personal goals or resolutions you wish you accomplish in 2019?

My goal for 2019 is that I achieve more of a work-life balance, because it’s not easy to do two full-time jobs at the same time – and I do consider being a good mother to my daughter a full-time job!

CWM: Tell us about the problems Hatshepsut is facing in the film, and what fans can expect in Part 2.

Fans can expect to see Hatshepsut facing all her enemies from within the palace and from exterior forces as well. When we left her in Part 1, she had been betrayed by her brother and husband, Thutmose II. In Part 2, we’ll see how she fights both for the love of Senmut and for the love of her country and the people she is ruling over. The main struggle she faces is the dichotomy that exists between power and love. It may seem impossible, but in reality, it is not.

What were the hardest, as well as the best part of playing such an important historical figure?

The difficulty of playing such a prominent figure in Ancient Egyptian history was how this character’s role in history was erased, mainly by her nephew Thutmose III who succeeded her to the throne after she stepped down. We’re not sure exactly why, perhaps because she was a woman and men did not want to keep a trace of a woman ruling Egypt and Sudan. So we don’t have much information to glean from the time of her reign, even the hieroglyphs created during her time on the throne were debased from the main temples and tombs. I had to imagine how this woman could have lived, ruled, and loved – it was a mix between fantasy and history.

The best part was similar, I found Hatshepsut to be a modern woman. Even her temple on the West Bank in Luxor is a unique and modern type of temple. The pillars are different from the rest. She was a beautiful, wise and fair ruler. She was unapologetic in her power, despite the challenges of being a female ruler. She had to wear a beard in public to be seen and accepted as a ruler! So she fought the patriarchal system from within and kept fighting until the end. I believe she ruled with a lot of heart and knew how to use it, which ultimately led her to lose this historical fight for power and be erased from history.

This film has love stories throughout all the ages, what do you think is special about Senmut and Hatshepsut’s love story compared to the rest?

The three different love stories presented in El Kenz all share one commonality; they are all impossible because of power. Each love story includes one person in the relationship who holds a position of power in society that leads the relationship to be impossible. I think Sherif Arafa wanted to discuss how love and power are often at an odds or contradicting, and you often have to choose one or the other.

What makes Senmut and Hatshepsut’s relationship special is how it is real and verified historically. Senmut was her chief architect, her lover, her confidante, and he even raised her daughter and was like a father figure to her. They also chose to be buried next to each other, which is significant. There is a tunnel inside her tomb discovered by archaeologists that connects her tomb to Senmut’s. So, it’s a love story that transcends time, and even transcends mortal life. It goes beyond, into the afterlife.

Tell us about the experience of working with a celebrated director like Sherif Arafa and such a diverse cast.

Working with Sherif Arafa is always a pleasure. As a director, he is always pushing boundaries and trying new things, approaching new topics, and filming his movies is always a challenge. As a director, Sherif knows exactly what he wants and is demanding. However, he also trusts his actors and if he likes someone, he really gives a lot of space and freedom for creativity. I’ve worked with him several times, and consider him both a mentor and a pioneer in Egyptian cinema.

QUICKFIRE ROUND

Last film you watched?
Vice with Christian Bale

Favorite actor/actress?
Many! Daniel Day-Lewis, Meryl Streep, Guillaume Canet, Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling … many!

Favorite food?
Pasta

Favorite designer?
Ralph & Russo and Elie Saab

Last best vacation you took?
Japan during the Cherry Blossom season… unforgettable!

Goal for 2019?
Learn to play chess and go back to playing oud.

As Hany Adel takes it back to the Pharaonic era in his latest love adventure, he opens up to Cairo West Publications about what it’s like to be Senmut.

CWM: Tell us about your character, Senmut, in the film, and what fans can expect in Part 2.

Senmut was Hatshepsut’s chief royal architect and oversaw the construction of her famous mortuary temple located beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari on the west bank. Many experts in the field claim there was a love story between them, but of course this was strictly forbidden at the time as he was beneath her in station and worked in the palace. Regardless, he played an extremely important role in her life, even tutoring her children. Some would speculate this close arrangement was orchestrated by the couple as a way for them to remain close to one another without raising any suspicions from the royal court or the public.

What was the hardest part of playing a character from the Pharaonic era, and what was the best part of playing such an interesting character?

The hardest part about playing such a person is that much of the personal characteristics and aspects of this character are complete fiction and fantasy, there is no hard evidence to work on. There is an immense amount of research that goes into studying a character like this one, but I believe we did a great job on part one with the input from Sherif Arafa and we succeeded in presenting a believable version of Senmut that audiences enjoyed. The most pleasurable part of playing this character was working with Mr. Arafa himself and my fellow actors, whom I learned so much from. The film sets and locations were awesome and I learned a lot about our history from the experience of playing this man.

This film has love stories through all the ages, what do you think is special about Senmut and Hatshepsut’s love story compared to the rest?

I believe the key difference in Senmut and Hatshepsut’s love story is how deeply they loved each other while being completely aware and certain that there is no future for their love. At that time and in those circumstances, there was no realistic way that they could ever celebrate their love openly and be together. Regardless, Senmut chose to stay by her side and raise her kids as his own.

Tell us about the experience of working with a celebrated director like Sherif Arafa and such a diverse cast?

Sherif Arafa is one of the most detail-oriented and precise directors I have ever worked with, and this shows in every scene of his films. He knows the message behind every line of dialogue and that helps us so much as actors, because it pushes us to focus intensely and act with the full confidence that he will extract the best possible acting from his cast.

QUICKFIRE ROUND

Favorite book you ever read?
Many! Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.

Music on repeat?
Smooth jazz, alternative rock, and any kind of spiritual singing from all around the world.

Favorite actor or actress?
Charlize Theron and Johnny Depp.

Best piece of advice received?
You’re free as long as you don’t harm others.
Don’t compare yourself to others; you never know what they’re going through.

Favorite food?
Macarona bechamel and kebda from the street cart!