Just like Jewish community in Egypt , there was big Italian community in Egypt prior 1952. The community found a place in Egypt since 19th century.Spot 1 and Al Jazeera Documentary decide to explore the history of this community.
The Italians of Egypt_trailer from SPOT1.TV on Vimeo.
When I think about it Egypt was much tolerant and open to the other with its cosmopolitan nature past more than today despite in the past we did not have many educated people like now.
I know that we are paying the price of the wrong nationalism policies adopted in 1960s and have been used since then by our presidents. These nationalism policies turned in to ugly chauvinism.
The documentary was already screened earlier this year and according to its official Facebook page its DVD in Italian is available in Europe. I would like to see the documentary so I will search if there are other versions translated in to English or Arabic.
Zeinobia you wrote: >I know that we are paying the price of the wrong nationalism policies adopted in 1960s and have been used since then by our presidents. These nationalism policies turned in to ugly chauvinism.
ReplyDeleteThis is only one reason but there are other reasons for why Egyptians of all stripes have left or are leaving Egypt and it is because the structure of the economy in Egypt is really flawed and the rich becomes really rich by stealing from the poor and the poor Egyptian lives on $2 per day!and even those the likes of the Sawiras' family that create jobs they are hated by those ignorant, lazy and intolerant salafis and ikhwangiyya
And I'm just curious did you notice that many salafis and ikhwangiyya suffer from morbid obesity in a country where 40% of the population make 2$ per day?
What is even more disturbing is that many Copts and many secular Muslims are leaving Egypt and they are not even looking back
As for the Italian community's contribution has been great with great artists the likes of Stephan Rosti and Dalida and how can Egypt be Egypt without gibna romi and mortadella and Chianti wine?
And the truth is who would want to live with these ignorant and intolerant salafis and ikhwangiyya?
please can you update us if you find the arabic or english version
ReplyDeleteIt was rumoured that Anna Magnani, Italy's greatest actress was born in Alexandria, a claim she later denied but others thought was true. Whatever, she had a connection with Egypt through her parents, one of which was Egyptian. She was at pains, being an Italian diva to associate herself with Italy which may be why she claimed her birthplace was Rome.
ReplyDeletePrior to WW2 Egypt had many foreign residents who helped modernise but also exploited the country. It would be interesting if Egypt in the future could be an open place where foreign influences wouldn't be viewed as a threat but that is some way off, at the moment.
It would be interesting if Egypt in the future could be an open place where foreign influences wouldn't be viewed as a threat but that is some way off, at the moment.
DeleteSome way off? If Egyptians abandoned their evil ways today and started raising their children not to be hateful bigots, and their children did the same thing with THEIR children, it might only take 4 or 5 generations to get to that interesting future.
Thank you for showing interest in our documentary The Italians of Egypt.
ReplyDeleteDuring the past 7 months, we organized 3 screenings in Alexandria, 2 in Cairo and 1 in Rome.
New screenings will be organized in Egypt after the summer, hopefully next October.
Please follow the official FaceBook page where we publish all the documentary news.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Italians-of-Egypt-documentary/153223034802820
REGARDS,
Sherif Fathy Salem
film director
Will you ever have the documentary with English sub titles? I would really love to see this documentary but my Italian is not very good.
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