Anthology Film Archives
Tuesday, May 5
Mohammad Omer Khalil Selects
Two films:
6:15PM - Umm Kulthum: A Voice Like Egypt (Dir. Michal Goldman)
8:45PM - The Chalk Garden (Dir. Ronald Neame)
UMM KULTHUM: A VOICE LIKE EGYPT
1996, 67 min, 16mm-to-DCP. In English and Arabic with English subtitles.
Il Giardino Di Gesso (1965)
This documentary follows the rise to widespread fame of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, also known as Fatima Ibrahim al-Sayyid al-Beltagy (1898-1975), who was born in the rural village of Tammay al-Zahayrah. She would soon become one of the most powerful voices in Egypt and across the Arab world, captivating audiences with her commanding vocals radiating across airwaves, and her mesmerizing stage presence in often sold-out live performances. Narrated by Omar Sharif, this 1996 documentary traces her influence and artistry through performance footage and interviews with friends, colleagues, and everyday Egyptians, reflecting on her life, career, and daring political stances. The profound influence Umm Kulthum’s music has had on Mohammad Omer Khalil’s life and work is reflected in the numerous collage paintings and prints he has created in tribute to the singer.
Tues, May 5 at 6:15.
THE CHALK GARDEN
1964, 106 min, 35mm-to-DCP. Dir. Ronald Neame. With Deborah Kerr, Hayley Mills, and John Mills.
Set on the cliffs of England’s south coast, THE CHALK GARDEN centers on a troubled household marked by emotional distance and concealed pasts. A headstrong, destructive 16-year-old girl and her exacting grandmother struggle to coexist, their relationship strained by mistrust and unspoken histories. The arrival of a mysterious governess begins to unsettle the household, as long-buried secrets gradually surface and fragile bonds are tentatively rebuilt, mirrored by the slow cultivation of the once-barren chalk garden. After seeing the film in 1965, dubbed in Italian, artist Mohammad Omer Khalil created one of his earliest etchings, depicting the chalk garden. The work, “Il Giardino Di Gesso” (1965) is on view alongside its plate in his solo exhibition Common Ground at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop Study Center.
Tues, May 5 at 8:45.
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