After a three-week run at Cairo’s Zawya cinema, the Egyptian documentary Memoirs of M.A Draz, directed by Maggie Morgan, will be screened during Goethe Film Week, which runs until September 23 at the Goethe Institute in Alexandria and Cairo.
The film will be shown on Friday, September 20, in Alexandria and on Saturday, September 21, in Cairo. It will follow Q&A sessions with Morgan, producer Noha El-Khouly, and co-writer Taghreed El-Asfoury.
Egyptian critic Mahmoud Abd El Shakour praised Memoirs of M.A. Draz as “one of the year’s best films. “The documentary recently won two awards at the 2024 Aswan International Women Film Festival. It tells the story of Azharite scholar Mohamed Abdallah Draz through letters, diaries, and photographs found by his great-granddaughter, Noha El-Khouly. It follows his life from humble beginnings to his studies in Paris and his progressive views on equal opportunities for his daughters.
The film, narrated by Sedky Sakr and scored by Khaled Al Kammar, has been lauded for its emotional depth. Morgan directed it and co-wrote it with El-Asfoury. El-Khouly produced it, with MAD Distribution handling regional sales and MAD World managing international distribution.
Maggie Morgan, a filmmaker and academic, shared her inspiration for the film and said it was born from personal stories shared by El-Khouly about her grandfather, Sheikh Draz, and the rich history they uncovered. The film highlights Draz’s scientific achievements and lasting social and cultural legacy.
