“Ehky ya Shahrazad” (“Recount Shahrazad”) cited among the African films most appealing to the French

Renowned director Yousry Nasr Allah film “Ehky ya Shahrazad” came in third in a list of African movies most appealing to French audiences in 2010. The title was screened in Paris under the name “Women in Cairo” and achieved considerable success in comparison to other Egyptian titles screened there in the past. The film was viewed by 72 thousand moviegoers throughout its screening period according to a report by the Sharq al-Awsat news agency.Most journalistic groups which discussed the film displayed empathy with regards to the topic which narrates the story of a successful television presenter unhappy because of her husband. Many French newspapers and websites also discussed the film and considered it a feminist work in support of women and their hopes in addition to being an exposition of the lack of correspondence between what is presented on television and reality.“al-Kharig ‘an al-Qanoun” (“The Outlaw”), a film presented by Algerian director Rashid Busharb who also carries the French nationality, had secured first place in a list of African films attracting the most audiences in France – the film was attended by 427 thousand viewers. Busharb’s reputation in France, in addition to the title’s topic which treats the French occupation of Algeria, contributed to the film’s success in France. Second place went to “Venus al-Sawdaa” (“Black Venus”), a film by Tunisian director ‘Abd Al Latif al-Kikeish. The title was viewed by 217 thousand moviegoers.