A 1935 Egyptian jewel where a pawned necklace becomes a marriage's undoing.
Fatima is a poor wife married to Hamido the sailor. Due to financial constraints, she pawns her jewelry to cover household expenses. She meets Umm Mahmoud, who is often away from home for work. Umm Mahmoud offers to arrange an evening with Ali Bey for Fatima. She goes to visit him, and her husband arrives, becoming suspicious. A dispute arises between them.
Direction
Mizrahi blends Egyptian street life with German expressionist shadows.
Acting
Amina Mohamed's face does what dialogue cannot.
Production
1935 Alexandria recreated on a shoestring, somehow lavish.
Director
Togo Mizrahi
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mizrahi, a Jewish-Egyptian director, dominated 1930s Egyptian cinema before his industry collapsed post-1948.
The pawned jewelry motif recurs in Egyptian cinema as coded commentary on women's disappearing economic autonomy under patriarchy.
SA
