The Three Disappearances of Soad Hosni

  • 68'
  • Lebanon
  • 2011
The Egyptian Soad Hosni was born in 1943 and committed suicide in 2001. Hosni, one of the most celebrated Arab actresses, played in 82 features. Rania Stephan reconstructed her life, just using fragments on VHS films in which Hosni was a shining star.
The film is divided into three acts, a prologue and epilogue, and not only tells the life story of the versatile film star, but also of Egyptian cinema and society. In the first part, we see the actress sing and dance and a cheerful gathering of boys, girls and family. In the second part, we see Hosni - who in reality had countless affairs - as a desirable woman in sometimes complex relationships. Act three runs parallel to a change in the mood of society: there is violence against and oppression of women.
It isn’t only the body of Hosni that disappeared; this form of cinema and VHS as a medium also disappeared - three disappearances.

  • 68'
  • Lebanon
  • 2011
Director
Rania Stephan
Country of production
Lebanon
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
68'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Original title
Akhtifa'at Soad Hosni ath-thalathat
Language
Arabic
Producer
Rania Stephan
Production Company
JOUN FILMS
Sales
JOUN FILMS
Screenplay
Rania Stephan
Editor
Rania Stephan
Sound Design
Rania Stephan
Director
Rania Stephan
Country of production
Lebanon
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
68'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Original title
Akhtifa'at Soad Hosni ath-thalathat
Language
Arabic
Producer
Rania Stephan
Production Company
JOUN FILMS
Sales
JOUN FILMS
Screenplay
Rania Stephan
Editor
Rania Stephan
Sound Design
Rania Stephan