WATCH: Cast & Crew of ‘Abdo & Saneya’ on Making an Arab Silent Film
The region’s first contemporary silent film, tells the story of an Egyptian farming couple who move to New York City and grapple with the harsh realities of the immigrant experience.
“I grew up watching the films of Charlie Chaplin, and it’s as if a layer of my personality was shaped by silent films,” shares Omar Bakry, director and lead actor of ‘Abdo & Saneya’, the first Middle Eastern contemporary silent film.
In an interview with Bakry, alongside lead actress and producer Inji El Gamaal and editor/post producer Salah Anwar, as part of SceneNowSaudi’s Rolling: Red Sea Saudi series, the cast and crew discuss the challenges they faced and the ultimate success of bringing this innovative project to life.
Blending Middle Eastern and Western musical elements, ‘Abdo & Saneya’ highlights the harsh realities of an invisible immigrant minority in the U.S. The film tells the story of an Egyptian farming couple, Abdo and Saneya, who move to New York City. Struggling with language barriers, illiteracy, and unfamiliarity with American life, they face the added challenge of overcoming infertility. Their journey takes them from homelessness to working in kitchens as they fight to survive in a fast-paced city.
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