Three years ago, Egyptian film circuits were abuzz with reporters announcing that a biopic about controversial political reformer and Muslim Brotherhood (MB) founder Hassan Al-Banna was in the pipeline.
The buzz quickly died down as the film failed to overcome pre-production problems. In recent weeks, news concerning the Al-Banna biopic resurfaced, backed this time with a proper media campaign and actual production notes.
Al-Banna’s son, Ahmed Seif Al-Islam Hassan, also said that a television series is currently in the making.
“The time gap happened for political reasons and many people were busy dealing with urgent issues, Hassan told Daily News Egypt.
Mohsen Radi, a member of MB’s parliamentary bloc, is involved in the production of both projects, according to Hassan. The script is currently under review for fact-checking. “All the facts and history are documented and that is our reference, he said.
In comments published on the Brotherhood’s website, Radi said the film will chart Al-Banna’s life, from an early age until his death. Part of the film will focus on Al-Banna becoming a Sufi in 1923 at the age of 17.
The film will highlight his participation in protests against the British occupation in 1919 in addition to the founding of the MB in 1928.
It will also depict his alleged assassination on the hands of government agents on February 16, 1949. Although there is no hard evidence to prove these accusations, many Brotherhood followers do believe that the government was responsible for Al-Banna’s death and that he died a martyr.
By the time of his death, the group boasted a half a million active members and twice as many supporters.
Five years after Al-Banna’s passing, former president Gamal Abdel Nasser ordered the dissolution of the MB, accusing them of planning the infamous failed assassination attempt on the president in Alexandria on October 26, 1954.
According to Hassan, years ago the idea of making a film about his father was out of the question. “There was no reason for us to even think about making a film like that, but now, since things have changed and the Brotherhood became a prominent body, we said why not. It is good for publicity and image is the media of the hour.
In the 2005 parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood proved to be a massive opposition force, winning 88 seats, nearly one-fifth of the seats in parliament. Since then, the government has led a relentless crackdown on the Brotherhood.
Leading scriptwriter Wahid Hamed has stirred up controversy in recent months with his latest TV series about the founding of the Brotherhood, which is currently in production. This project, scheduled to air next Ramadan, infuriated the Brotherhood as well as Al-Banna’s family, who believe they’re entitled to tell his story.
“Brotherhood rivals try to disfigure the image of the Brotherhood and its founders and we need to put things back in perspective, Hassan argued.
The local press quoted Hamed as saying that no one will have a say in how he portrays the characters. To that, Hassan responds, “We are not in a jungle and no one can just come up and say something illegal about others.
“It is appropriate to discuss the work of a person in a film, but discussing their personal lives and changing facts to make them seem like they are not who they are is wrong, he added.
On who would play his father, Hassan said there are a few names on the table, asserting that the casting process is the biggest obstacle yet, as they look for not only a skilled actor, but someone who is “decent and moral.
There is currently no news about whether the Al-Banna biopic has been submitted to the censorship authority. The government-controlled censorship body must pass the film first before granting permission for a theatrical release.
