African Perspectives presents: ‘Saladin – The Victorious’

IN 1963 Egypt’s most acclaimed directo, Youssef Chahine, made the film, ‘Saladin’ which was originally titled ‘El Nasser – Defender/Deliverer – Sala ed-Dine’, an epic, three-hour film named after the 12th Century Sultan who, as the film begins, is preparing to liberate Jerusalem from its Christian Crusader occupiers.

It was scripted by Naguib Mahfouz and the poet and progressive writer Abderrahman Cherkaoui. Parallels between Saladin and President Nasser were easily drawn and at the time, this was the most expensive film made in Egypt. Saladin is shown as an educated and peaceable man – at one point he is asked to give clandestine medical help to Richard (the Lion Heart), shot by an arrow, and later he tells him: ‘Religion is God’s and the Earth is for all … I guarantee to all Christians in Jerusalem the same rights as are enjoyed by Muslims.’The film is brought to you by AfricAvenir and Studio 77 in co-operation with Pro Helvetia Cape Town, The Swiss Arts Council, The Bank Windhoek Arts Festival, the FNCC and the Egyptian Embassy in Windhoek. ‘Saladin – the Victorious’ will be screened at Studio 77 on Saturday, February 27 from 19h00. Entrance is N$10 and audiences are advised to be on time, as the film is three hours long. The film event will be opened by a presentation by the Egyptian Ambassador to Namibia, Dr Mohammed Hadi Mostafa El-Tonsi.