Sira` Fi al-Wadi
Encyclopedia
Sira` Fi al-Wadi is a 1954
Egypt
ian romance
/drama film
directed by the acclaimed Egyptian film director
Youssef Chahine
and written by Helmy Halim
and Ali El Zorkani. It starred Omar Sharif
and Faten Hamama
. This was the first film role that Omar Sharif played and it was this role that earned him stardom. In 1996, during the Egyptian Cinema
centennial, this film was selected one of the best 150 Egyptian film productions. It was presented in the 1954 Cannes Film Festival
under the name The Blazing Sky.
whose father (played by Abdel Waress Assar) is a farmer and a farm owner. His father succeeds in improving and increasing the production of sugar cane in his farm. Taher Pasha
, a wealthy land owner, who runs a competing sugar cane production facility, feels threatened by his recent production prosperity. Ahmed is in a love relationship with the pasha's daughter, Amal, but as a consequence to the rivalry between both their fathers, he is compelled to hide their relationship.
The pasha learns of a heated dispute that started between Ahmed's father and one of his partners and finds this to be his perfect chance. He plans a crime
and a conspiracy against Ahmed's father. The next day, the partner is found murder
ed in the farm, and Ahmed's father is suspected to be the murderer, especially after his quarrel with the victim. He is blamed for the crime and sentenced to death. Ahmed learns of a witness of this crime, but after looking for him, he discovers that he was killed in a mysterious accident. Ahmed's father is executed and his partner's son, Selim, seeks revenge for his father's death. He searches for Ahmed for retribution. Ahmed, fearing his death, hides in an ancient temple in the desert.
Meanwhile, a relative of the pasha, asks the pasha for his daughter's hand, Amal, but the pasha refuses and rejects his offer. Angered, he kills him and reveals the truth of the murder to the police
. After knowing the truth of his father's true murderer, Selim, apologizes to Ahmed. Ahmed returns to his love and marries
her.
1954 in film
The year 1954 in film involved some significant events and memorable ones.-Events:*May 12 - The Marx Brothers' Zeppo Marx divorces wife Marion Benda...
Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian romance
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
/drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by the acclaimed Egyptian film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Youssef Chahine
Youssef Chahine
Youssef Chahine was an Egyptian film director active in the Egyptian film industry since 1950. He was credited with launching the career of actor Omar Sharif...
and written by Helmy Halim
Helmy Halim
Helmy Halim was an Egyptian film director, screenwriter and film producer. He has worked with many stars like Omar Sharif, Ahmed Ramzy, Faten Hamama and Abdel Halim Hafez....
and Ali El Zorkani. It starred Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
and Faten Hamama
Faten Hamama
Faten Hamama is an Egyptian producer and an acclaimed actress of film, television, and theatre. She was regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from melodramas to historical films and occasional comedies, though her chief successes were romantic dramas...
. This was the first film role that Omar Sharif played and it was this role that earned him stardom. In 1996, during the Egyptian Cinema
Cinema of Egypt
The cinema of Egypt refers to the flourishing Egyptian Arabic-language film industry based in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Since 1976, Cairo has held the annual Cairo International Film Festival, which has been accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations. There is also...
centennial, this film was selected one of the best 150 Egyptian film productions. It was presented in the 1954 Cannes Film Festival
1954 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Jean Cocteau *Jean Aurenche *André Bazin *Luis Buñuel*Henri Calef *Guy Desson *Philippe Erlanger *Michel Fourre-Cormeray *Jacques-Pierre Frogerais...
under the name The Blazing Sky.
Plot
Omar Sharif plays Ahmed, an engineerEngineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
whose father (played by Abdel Waress Assar) is a farmer and a farm owner. His father succeeds in improving and increasing the production of sugar cane in his farm. Taher Pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
, a wealthy land owner, who runs a competing sugar cane production facility, feels threatened by his recent production prosperity. Ahmed is in a love relationship with the pasha's daughter, Amal, but as a consequence to the rivalry between both their fathers, he is compelled to hide their relationship.
The pasha learns of a heated dispute that started between Ahmed's father and one of his partners and finds this to be his perfect chance. He plans a crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
and a conspiracy against Ahmed's father. The next day, the partner is found murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed in the farm, and Ahmed's father is suspected to be the murderer, especially after his quarrel with the victim. He is blamed for the crime and sentenced to death. Ahmed learns of a witness of this crime, but after looking for him, he discovers that he was killed in a mysterious accident. Ahmed's father is executed and his partner's son, Selim, seeks revenge for his father's death. He searches for Ahmed for retribution. Ahmed, fearing his death, hides in an ancient temple in the desert.
Meanwhile, a relative of the pasha, asks the pasha for his daughter's hand, Amal, but the pasha refuses and rejects his offer. Angered, he kills him and reveals the truth of the murder to the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. After knowing the truth of his father's true murderer, Selim, apologizes to Ahmed. Ahmed returns to his love and marries
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
her.
Main cast
- Faten HamamaFaten HamamaFaten Hamama is an Egyptian producer and an acclaimed actress of film, television, and theatre. She was regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from melodramas to historical films and occasional comedies, though her chief successes were romantic dramas...
as Amal - Omar SharifOmar SharifOmar Sharif is an Egyptian actor who has starred in Hollywood films including Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won two Golden Globe Awards.-Early life:...
as Ahmed - Zaki RostomZaki RostomZaki Rostom Zaki Moharram Mahmoud Rostom Egyptian actor belongs to a school of integration, and is one of the most important actor of the Egyptian cinema....
as Taher Pasha - Abdel Waress Assar as Ahmed's father
- Farid Shawqi as himself
- Hamdy Gheith as Selim