When a Woman Sings 2004
Distributed by Arab Film Distribution, 10035 35th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125; 206-322-0882
Producer n/a
Directed by Mustapha Hasnaoui
VHS, color, 52 min.
College - Adult
Multicultural Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Music, Women's Studies
Date Entered: 07/28/2006
Reviewed by Charles Burkart, Media Bibliographer, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WVWhen a Women Sings is a musical documentary that examines the lives of two popular early twentieth century Egyptian singers: Umm Kulthum and Mounira El-Mahdeya. Both these singers were popular in Egypt and throughout the Arab world.
El-Mahdeya started her career when women singers were considered awra or indecent according to some interpretations of Islamic Law. Because of cultural pressure, Mounira El-Mahdeya played only male parts (Romeo and Marc Anthony) when she first appeared in plays in 1917. Capitalizing on her successful early career, she eventually started singing popular operetta and Italian opera roles for appreciative Egyptian audiences.
Umm Kulthum, of Egyptian fallah (peasant) origin, was more popular than El- Mahdeya and made numerous records, and appeared in many Arabic movies. She made a significant impact on popular Arabic music. During the nineteen twenties and thirties lyrics for popular songs, sung by Umm Kulthum and others, were quite risqué by contemporary Middle Eastern Standards. Despite controversy, Umm Kulthum maintained a large following, and was a confidant of both Egyptian King Faruk and Gamal Abdul Nassar. Umm Kulthum was only briefly out of favor after a revolution deposed King Faruk, and Nassar personally intervened on her behalf.
A variety of sources (personal interviews, period documentary and feature film footage, and old television footage) are used to chronicle the life of the two popular Egyptian singers. Because much of the video footage was archival, the film was on occasion, grainy and blurred. The video was also recorded at a slow speed, either SP or EP mode, and I did notice a few visual glitches. However, sound is clear and acceptable, although some of the music is taken from old 78 rpm records.
When a Woman Sings is a well constructed documentary of great interest to students of Middle Eastern Music and popular Arabic culture. I can recommend it to university and college libraries with Arabic language, Middle Eastern music, or women’s studies programs.