Six Distinguished Movies Marking Niazi Mustafa’s Cinematic Career
Niazi Mustafa has come to be recognized as a visionary director, weaving tales with a passion that resonates like the age-old beats of tribal drums. Before the digital-age transformed cinema, he was already crafting magic with innovative techniques. Walking alongside the luminaries of Egyptian cinema, Mustafa's spirit and dedication shine like the North Star in the desert night.
Here are six of the best Arabic movies that he’s directed:
Qamar 14 (1950)
This movie revolves around a love story between Mohsen and Qamar, who are secretly married. When Mohsen’s father asks him to marry the daughter of one of the renowned merchants in the market, to save his family from bankruptcy, he must come up with a plan to prevent this marriage from taking place. He has Qamar disguise herself as a nanny working for his family, which gives everyone the opportunity to get to know and love her.
- Directed by Niazi Mustafa
- Written by Abdel Fattah
- Cast: Hassan Fayek, Camelia, Mahmoud Zulfikar, Al Sayed Bedeir, Fardous Mohamed and Abdel Fattah El Kassri
The Secret of the Hiding Hat
Abd Al Moneim Ibrahim starred in several Arabic comedies, and “The Secret of the Hiding Hat” stands as the most important among them. The movie revolves around Fasih, a little kid playing in his father’s lab, who accidentally summons an ifrit that burns and transforms into ashes. This ash covers Fasih’s hat, imbuing it with the power to make anything beneath it invisible. Faish starts playing with the hat, but the fun ends when a malicious person steals it and uses it for nefarious purposes. Fasih must then embark on many adventures in his quest to retrieve the stolen hat.
- Written and directed by Niazi Mustafa
- Cast: Zahret El Ola, Tewfik El Dekn, Abdel Moneim Ibrahim, Berlenti Abdulhamid, Ahmed Farahat and Georges Yordanis
Rabia El Adawaya - 1963
This movie tells the tale of Rabea Al Addawaya, a bondwoman of Essam El Din (one of the wealthy merchants in Bassra).When her master is murdered by another merchant, Rabea consequently becomes his bondwoman before crossing paths with Thawban, a Sufi who guides her to righteousness. She endures her master’s torture to avoid returning to a life of prostitution.
- Directed by Niazi Mostafa
- Written by Saneya Qoraa
- Cast: Emad Hamdi, Nabila Ebeid, Hussein Riyad, Farid Shawki, Abdullah Gheith and Salwa Mahmoud
Thirty Days in Prison (1966)
This movie revolves around the character of Amshir, a bodyguard in a nightclub that’s owned by a rich businessman named Medhat El Shamashiri. When Medhat is slapped with a one-month sentence for burning the mustache of a man originating from Upper Egypt, He convinces Amshir to replace him behind bars, in exchange for a sum of money. Amshir agrees, but then Medhat starts to flirt with his girlfriend. When Medhat's fiancée discovers his flirting, she exposes him in front of Amshir.
- Directed by Niazi Mustafa
- Written by Naguib El Rihani
- Starring: Mimi Chakib, Farid Shawki, Nawal Abulfutuh, Hassan Hamed, Abu Bakr Ezzat and Mohamed Reda.
Eve and the Monkey (1968)
The movie revolves around a married woman called Nadia, who is insanely jealous. When she discovers her husband is in a relationship with a belly dancer, she starts visiting a psychiatrist, who diagnoses her as schizophrenic. Nadia starts acting irrationally and enters into relationships with other men; she calls her ex-fiancé and starts meeting him secretly.
- Directed by Niazi Musafa
- Written by Abdelhai Adib
- Cast: Salah Nazmi, Abdel Monem Madbouli, Mohamed Reda, Soad Hosni, Mohamed Awad, Mimi Chakib and Salah Nazmi
Searching for a Scandal 1973
This movie follows Magdi, an engineer originating from a rural area, heading to the capital to start a new job. Previously unacquainted with romance, he befriends Sami, a womanizer who guides him in his new relationship with Hanan. Hanan’s parents refuse Magdi’s marriage proposal, due to the difference of social rankings, but with Sami's help, the story unfurls in a string of humorous and comedic situations.
- Directed by Niazi Mustafa
- Written by Farouk Sabri
- Cast: Samir Sabri, Yussuf Wahbi, Adel Imam, Mervat Amin, Mimi Chakib, Ahmed Ramzi and George Sidhom