Dawoud ‘Abd al-Sayyid: Egyptian cinema will change post the revolution and films such as “Bonne Soiree” should become a thing of the past

Renowned director Dawoud ‘Abd al-Sayyid has rebuffed the wave of films expected to premier following the revolution and has described them as propaganda works that are put together in an excited whim to support the revolution but lack artistic value that could make them important works or works that could be retained for future generations. Dawoud further adds that most of these works will portray a love story between a boy and a girl at Tahrir square and other such constructed themes. Dawoud believes that the best way to document the revolution is through documentary film works due to the fact that they permit the depiction and discussion of the relevant events directly without the need for the reliance on naive plots which would result if the revolution is depicted in a fictional narrative work over the coming period.With regards to the shape of cinema in the near future, Dawoud has stated that the recent events in Egypt were associated with fundamental changes and involved millions of Egyptian who were previously not concerned with political events but thereafter became participants in a revolution. Thus Dawoud believes that cinema should be reformed in order to suit people’s changed mindsets whereby Egyptian cinema should become more daring when compared to previous periods. Moreover, films such as “Bonne Soiree” for example should be put aside. Egyptian cinema should thus become more real and informed.