Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Get to Know 1st Woman-Directed Arab Film Screened in Cannes


Tue 05 Jan 2021 | 05:44 PM
Rana Atef

In 1974, a rising Arab filmmaker director, Heiny Srour, managed in introducing a rare and unique documentary film about an unforgotten revolution in the history of Oman, the Dhofar.

Her "The Hour of Liberation Has Arrived" was the only documentary that depicted the Dhofar'a revolution in Oman. This film became the first Arab film made by a woman that was screened at Cannes. Also, it was nominated for four prizes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UStNcn7T6E8

The Lebanese director expressed that she and her team crossed 500 miles of desert and mountains by foot, under bombardment by the British Royal Air Force, to reach the conflict zone at Dhofar and capture this rare record of a now mostly-forgotten war.

Srour observed the war between the region of Dhofar against Oman to be separated away from the tyranny of its rulers and the British occupation of the lands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq2RhQQL1zQ

She focused on the significant role of women who chose to fight hand in hand with men against the enemies as the rulers of Dhofar aimed to create a state based on gender equality and direct a wide social reform.

The revolution was supported by Russia, China, and Egypt, however, it was ended after the strong interference of the Irani army.