Egypt Daily News – Amr Adib commented on the announcement by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly regarding the formation of a committee focused on drama and culture, titled “The Future of Drama,” aimed at presenting true Egyptian cultural drama and preserving Egyptian identity and belonging, based on directives from the President of the Republic.
Amr Adib posted on his X account: “The film Al-Ar is one of the most important works in Egyptian cinema history. Is it a morally exemplary film? Cairo 30 is an irreplaceable film, what are its standards of principles?”
He added: “Khalli Balak Min Zouzou tells the story of a cabaret family, what are its standards of upbringing? The series Sijn Al-Nisaa is an exceptional work, what kind of role model does it offer? The Innocent is a clear political statement, was it honorable for Egyptian political life? The Guilty, was it a model for a respectable society? Half of the most-watched Ramadan series in the past five years, what are the standards of purity in them?”
He continued: “In the era of open skies, the viewer is the decision-maker. Let them choose. If someone wants to support a particular school of drama, produce a series about [Ahmed] Zewail or Magdi Yacoub and let people decide. Viewers should also exercise the necessary moral pressure that compels drama makers to follow certain principles.”
Adib further stated: “Directed art dies. If there are more than 40 drama productions during Ramadan and we have concerns about four or five, then let’s appreciate the rest. Frankly, I can’t understand how someone can watch more than 10 series a day in a month where people pray, fast, and reflect.”
He went on: “Let people choose and reject. You can no longer ban, but you can refine taste by improving education and aesthetics. Drama is not always reality but a version of it, sometimes more, sometimes less. Otherwise, we would have burned half of world and Arab cinema. The question of ‘Is this reality?’ belongs in journalism, not drama. Drama competition is about attracting viewers, turning their interest into advertisements and influence and in this, let the competitors compete. Let people decide what to watch and what rules to follow. The choices are vast ignore what bothers you and watch what doesn’t.”
