Top historical discrepancies in Arabic drama and cinema

CAIRO – 1 December 2017: Composing a historical TV series or film requires massive research for accuracy, especially if documentation is the main goal of the artistic work. Unfortunately, there are a few Arabic historical TV shows or films that don't have mistakes. Egypt Today listed some of the fatal historical discrepancies in the Arabic cinema.

"Al Nasser Salah El Din" (Salah El-Din, the Victorious) 1963

Directed by the legendary Youssif Shahin, "Al Nasser Salah El Din" is one of the greatest films in the history of the Arabic cinema.

Despite its treasured position, the film is full of fatal historical mistakes, according to prominent author Bassam El Shamaa.

"Eissa El Awam’s character, which was played by Salah Zulfakar, was not a Christian one; he was Muslim," El Shamaa explained in lectures and TV interviews.

"The queen called Virginia, the most beautiful queen ever, who was played by Leila Fawzy was a myth," El Shamaa added.


A Scene from "Al Nasser Salah El Din" - Photo Courtesy: Archive

"Aa’rouss El Nile" (Nile's Bride) 1963

"Aa'rouss El Nile," directed by Fatin Abdel Wahab, has maintained its beauty and magic over time; its story having captured the hearts of Egyptians by combining a modern times love story in Egypt with ancient Egyptian mythology.

Revolving around a love story between an engineer played by legendary actor Rushdi Abaza and Hamees, played by iconic actress Lubna Abdel Aziz, the film ends with Hamees being thrown in the Nile as a sacrifice.

Locally, Egyptian's believed that ancient Egyptians sacrificed a beautiful girl to the Nile flood celebrations, but El Shamaa' clarified that that was just a myth.


- A Scene from "Arouss El Nile" Photo Courtesy Youtube

"Al Maseer" (Destiny) 1997

The award-winning film "Al Masser,” directed by Shahin, revolves around the ideological conflict in Andalusia during the lifetime of Muslim philosopher Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes.

However, the issue with this film is that its events mainly take place during the 12th century, yet the props do not fit the appropriate time period.


A Scene from "Al Maseer" - Photo Courtesy: Youtube

"Al Zipaq" 2017

Taking place in 1998, the TV show, "Al Zipaq" revolves around an Egyptian secret agent, played by Karim Abdel Aziz who detects the presence of Arabic-Israeli spies in Greece.

A number of historical mistakes appeared throughout the TV show in terms of the props used; the show featured modern cell phones, a Play Station and modern computer screens.


A Scene from "Al Zipaq" - Photo Courtesy: Archive

"Saraya Abdeen" (Abdeen Palace) 2014

Gaining huge popularity for its magnificent dramatic techniques, "Saraya Abdeen’s" fatal historical mistakes broke media platforms immediately after its screening.

The main setting of the series is Saraya Abdeen (Abdeen Palace), according to the series makers; the events of the TV show take place in 1860, while historically the palace was constructed from 1863 to 1868 which means that construction of the palace began three years after the discussed period in the TV show, according to Egyptian author Maged Farag.

Another fatal discrepancy in the series was calling Ismail "Khedive", since Ismail ascended the throne three years later in 1863.

Focusing on Ismail’s relationships with women is also one of the biggest mistakes of "Saraya Abdeen", because Ismail managed to establish a real renaissance in Egypt.


A Scene from "Saraya Abdeen" - Photo Courtesy: Archive