Mahraganat is a style of electro developed in El Salam City, a poor neighbourhood in Cairo. During the revolution that started in January 2013, this part of the city was razed by the government. However, the revolution brought freedom of speech, which young musicians immediately grasped to play their fast beats. To them, belly dancers and Chaabi at weddings are so old-hat. They want to have their world expressed in lyrics about shot-up homes, brothers who became cops and soldiers and have to face off, about parties that have to be held. Whether happy or sad, Mahraganat makes the masses dance. Journalist and documentary maker Hind Meddeb filmed artists such as Sadat, Oka & Ortega, Weza, Fig, Chipsy and Amra Haha on their route past freedom, values, ideals and dreams. What is left once fame and fortune come calling? Luckily the huge raves in Egypt keep going.
Film details
- Countries of production
- Egypt, France
- Year
- 2013
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2014
- Length
- 77"
- Medium/Format
- File
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