Back in 2016, Hepta took Egyptian cinema by storm. If you loved how much of a hit Hepta was, look out for this one. Ahmed Dawood took to Instagram, talking about filming Ezma and promising more behind-the-scenes photos.
Mohamed Sadek: A Writer of Emotions
Mohamed Sadek is known for delivering deeply human stories. His books are always concerned with the inner journey of the main character, how they change over time, and what leads to their downfall or their eventual achievement of their goals. Ezma is the perfect example of this and is generally considered Sadek’s best novel.
Ezma: The Journey of Self-discovery
Ezma follows Eissa, whose life is falling apart at 36. Somehow, on his 36th birthday, a series of videos he filmed for his older self when he was 18 find their way back to him. He begins a journey that his younger self takes him on to rediscover himself, and it may be precisely what he needs.
Stepping Into a New Creative Plane
This adaptation is very special. Mohamed Sadek is directing it himself, marking it his directing debut. This resolves the ever-present debate of whether the movie will be faithful to the book. Even if there are some changes, the director, being the author who fundamentally understands the characters, will make this production one of a kind. In this case, changes will only be improvements and development in the creative process.
Ahmed Dawood: Bringing Characters to Life
Ahmed Dawood played one of Hepta’s characters, Ramy, in the movie adaptation. In Ezma, he is returning as the main character, Eissa. Having previously portrayed one of Sadek’s characters gives him the advantage of being familiar with how Sadek constructs his characters, allowing him a deeper understanding of Eissa.
The emotional depth Dawood gives to the characters he portrays makes him the perfect casting for Eissa. His ability to convey the mental state of the character through body language and facial expressions, rather than just words, makes his performances hyper-realistic and impactful. Dawood makes the character live on in the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.
