The black-and-white film depicts the tumultuous period of 1956 when the controversial Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser stunned the world by seizing the Suez canal from its European owners, and declared it Egyptian property. The movie uses actual newsreel footage to illustrate the ensuing battle that pitted Egypt against Israel, Britain and France. The superpowers suppressed the crisis, and Egypt gained permanent control of the canal. At the time of the film’s release, Egyptian director Mohamed Fadel explained how Nasser 56 struck a special chord among Egypt’s disenchanted youth. “The Egyptianyouth are in search of a feeling of superiority and invincibility. The events surrounding the canal represent, for the youth, true heroism.” 1996, 142min.
Sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition
There is a traditional form of film presentation from the silent era which involves a speaking performer accompanying a projected film. One contemporary re-visioning of the form replays short scenes from modern films (with the sound muted) overdubbed live with new narration. Tonight’s program blends intervention, critique, satire and homage, featuring an ensemble piece with Tisa Bryant, Jen Hofer, Jennifer Nellis, Ron Palmer, and Konrad Steiner each re-telling a different scene from one of the most revised films in history: “Blade Runner.” Special guests Cecil Giscombe and Erin Morrill will also be performing premieres of original pieces.
“Mothercountry Motherfuckers attempts to explain in musical form not only what the youth of today are against but also what they are for… It is a musical expression against war, racism, violence, poverty, the destruction of our natural environment, inequality, puritanism, imbalance of power, and the counterculture filtered through the psyche of aging, pseudo-hipster, rock musicians assuming the voice of nameless, all-wise, Socratic questioners. Dig it!”