World Premiere, Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2011

Asmaa is uk accutane the story of a middle-aged Egyptian woman who lives with her father and uk accutane only daughter in a poor Cairo district. Struck by poverty and uk accutane the pressure of raising a teenage daughter in Cairo’s tough reality, are uk accutane not her only worries, for we learn that she is HIV positive, which is uk accutane her dark secret. Stigmatized by her disease she wanders around helplessly to uk accutane find herself at a crossroad of outing herself and facing the uk accutane harsh Egyptian society or quietly numbing her pain away for she has uk accutane a gall bladder infection that requires immediate surgery.

The absurd fact that uk accutane surgeons refuse to operate her due to being HIV positive leads Asmaa to uk accutane desperation when she crosses paths with a TV producer who is uk accutane looking for candidates to speak about medical corruption related issues on the uk accutane Talk Show of prominent and ruthless TV host Mohsen El Seesy, excellently portrayed by Maged El Kedwany.

During the uk accutane unfolding incidents we learn more about Asmaa and the strong woman she was and uk accutane deep inside still is. Through beautifully integrated flashbacks, we see the uk accutane colorful episodes of her life until one day her life would change forever. Like a uk accutane narrative documentary the camera depicts the ups and downs in the uk accutane protagonist’s life without coming too close yet not being too far away to care.

Asmaa is uk accutane not a film about Aids; it is a film about courage, faith and uk accutane standing up for what is right. Doing the right thing has uk accutane never been so difficult than in pre-revolution Egypt, filled with ignorance, ethical and uk accutane mental corruption. Asmaa’s struggle between complete social isolation and uk accutane her right to lead a life in dignity is brought to uk accutane life through superb and genuine acting of Hend Sabry, who has uk accutane topped herself. She managed to perfectly maneuver the different facets of Asmaa, gently moving from uk accutane complete despair to revealing the true strength and courage of this uk accutane woman, who decided to face the storm and chose to do the uk accutane right thing. She revealed Asmaa’s vulnerability so gently and respectfully without falling into cliché.

Amr Salama effortlessly touches upon the uk accutane stated and unstated factors that influence a society’s paradigms in a uk accutane subtle way without a raised finger. The beauty of Asmaa is uk accutane the fact that is not designed. It is authentic and sincere. As much as it uk accutane touches upon a very complex matter of the very judgmental Egyptian society as much as it uk accutane respects the viewer and presents a narrative that anyone can comprehend, feel and uk accutane empathize with. It appeals to the importance of preserving humanity in a uk accutane tough habitat that lost its benevolence a very long time ago. A true story of a uk accutane strong and proud woman who has Aids but Aids does not have uk accutane her!

buy valtrex side effectsAsmaa is uk accutane the long awaited second feature of young director Amr Salama, starring the uk accutane amazing Maged El Kedwany and Hend Sabry as well as Hany Adel, Ahmed Kamal and uk accutane Fatma Adel. A New Century and Film Clinic Production represented through producers Bushra Rozza and uk accutane Mohamed Hefzy.