Born a peasant at the turn of the last centuary, legendary Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum earned a position of great wealth and influence. She was a powerful symbol, first of the aspirations of her country, then of the entire Arab world. Four Million people filled the streets of Cairo for her funeral in 1975, and to this day her songs outsell those of many contemporary Arab femal vocalists.
Narrated by Omar Sharif, Umm Kulthum, A Voice Like Egypt takes viewers into her home village and to the streets and cafes of Cairo where she lived and worked. Featuring concert footage, film clips and interviews with the famed singers, friends and colleagues, Michal Goldman's documentary places the life and career of Umm Kulthum in the context of the epic story of 20th centuary Egypt.
She had the musicallity of Ella Fitzgerald,
The public presence of Eleanor Roosevelt,
and the audience of Elvis Presley.
Audio: Arabic, English.
Subtitles: English
Run Time 68 minutes.
Colour.
