Egyptian Producer Mohamed Khaled: The Girls and Their Enthusiasm Are Behind “Rafaat Einy Lel Sama” (The Girls Who Looked at the Sky)
Q: What attracted you to the idea of the film “Rafaat Einy Lel Sama” to produce it?
I worked in development for five years before entering the field of production, and working in development means constantly moving between governorates and different places in Egypt. What truly motivated me were the girls, because they have a powerful energy that surpasses all of ours. They reminded me of myself during adolescence, and I saw myself in them, and I saw the image of my friends in other governorates who wanted to come to Cairo to get an opportunity. There was immense enthusiasm, and the girls’ talent, cleverness, and rapid development were essential factors in motivating the team, which filmed for four years.
Q: The film portrays a secluded Christian community. Did you face difficulties filming there for four years?
Not at all. There were no problems whatsoever. We have large numbers of Christians, and the fact that the girls were Christian happened by chance. The village itself includes large areas where Muslims live normally. It is true that the percentage of Christians there is high, but we were not preoccupied with being in a Christian village as much as we focused on studying the Christian religious culture in Upper Egypt (the Sa’id region). As a Muslim, I was very much enjoying entering Christian places in Egypt and learning about new customs and traditions. We personally enjoyed this experience, and we did not face any problems at all.
Q: Can the film be classified as a feminist work?
The film encompasses everything. From the perspective of the girls, it is indeed a feminist film. From the perspective of those who have a dream of working in art, it reflects their dreams, and each of them might see themselves in it. And whoever watches the film and recalls their image in their childhood will also find what represents them. But certainly, there is a clear feminist character, because the troupe is made up of Christian girls, and therefore the film carries a feminist element. I believe that if it were a group of boys, they would not have faced the problems the girls experienced. Therefore, it can be said that a large part of the film is directed at the female community.
