EGYPTIANS REFLECT ON THE NIGHT BAGHDAD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 000651 SIPDIS FOR R, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, IIP, PA E.O. 12958: NA TAGS: PREL EG US OIIP KPAO KIRF PREL EG US OIIP KPAO KIRF SUBJECT: EGYPTIANS REFLECT ON THE NIGHT BAGHDAD FELL UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY From a standing ovation at the Cairo International Film Festival to standing room only crowds in working class downtown theaters, the film The Night Baghdad Fell (NBF) has enjoyed critical and popular success in Egypts capitol since its premier on December 8. The film condemns US involvement in Iraq while offering a poignant criticism of an indifferent Egyptian government and a cynical Egyptian society. Response to particular scenes and themes varied according to audience, but the public and press have applauded the film overall. The film is one example of compelling artistic works offered to Cairenes this winter. END SUMMARY ARY ¶2. (U) On December 8, Press Off and Egyptian glitterati attended the premier of The Night Baghdad Fell (Lailat Sequoot Baghdad) at the 29th Cairo International Film Festival. The only Egyptian entry in the festival, NBF was warmly received and there was palpable disappointment by Egyptian artists and critics when it failed to win any awards. Some members of the press argued that the perceived slight was politically driven by the GOE in response to the films anti-GOE and anti-USG themes. Other members of the press suggested that NBF was a victim of jury bias against Arabic films. Notably, not a single Arabic film won a prize outside of the festivals Best Arabic Film category. ¶3. (U) On January 12 during the Muslim Eid holiday when Egyptians frequent the cinema more than any other time of year, Press Off attended another screening of NBF in a crowded downtown Cairo theater filled with young couples and families. Again, the audience raved over the film, this time largely in support of its f its anti-USG content. ¶4. (U) The Night Baghdad Fell is the story of one Egyptian familys remarkable efforts to protect their country from a feared US invasion in the days following Operation Iraqi Freedom. The lead protagonist is an Egyptian headmaster whose family is traumatized by media reports of the American attacks on Baghdad. He begins to have nightmares that Egypt will also be attacked, that Cairo will be destroyed, and that his daughter will be sexually assaulted by the US military. The headmaster thus employs a former student, once a brilliant scientist and now a cynical deadbeat, to develop a deterrent weapon for Egypt. The student proceeds to do so with growing support from the surrounding Egyptian community who eventually enlist in a private army organized by the headmaster to fight the USG. The film ends with the successful development and implementation of the weapon (an electrical shield that can implode attacking US airplanes) and the headmasters closing osing rhetorical question, What would have become of Egypt without this weapon? ¶5. (U) NBF is unquestionably a condemnation of the Iraq War, Abu Gharaib, Iraqi civilian casualties and overall perceived American barbarism and imperialism. Actual footage of Secretary Rice speaking about Syria and Iran is shown on the familys television. In the film, these countries are subsequently attacked by the US. Director Mohamed Amir is quoted by Reuters (12/28/05) as stating ``I hoped the film would be shown in America and Americans should see it so that they would know to what extent the U.S. invasion of Iraq ... lost America its supporters in the region. ¶6. (U) In another scene, the young scientist is distracted from this work by his fantasies about Secretary Rice. While this brief scene has been SIPDIS highlighted in the Egyptian press, there was no clear reaction by audience members during either screening and no reference was made to the scene during conversations with audience members following the film. . ¶7. (U) Audiences recognized the films portrayal of Egyptians as impotent, militarily and physically, in the face of American military power. The greatest crowd pleaser at the working class theater Rivoli was when the young scientist finally succeeds in developing a prototype for the deterrent weapon and displays it before his community and new wife during a suspenseful test trial. The crowd literally cheered as miniature planes exploded in air. ¶8. (U) Aside from US foreign policy, the comedys true foil is Egyptian government and society. The headmasters friends try to persuade him that the GOE must already have a deterrent weapon, otherwise why would it be so nonchalant and submissive in the face of a US threat? In the favorite scene of the affluent premier audience, the young scientist commits himself to the weapon project when the headmaster agrees to offer him his daughters hand in marriage. When the daughter admits to the scientist that she is only only marrying him for her country, he replies: Well, at least I got something out of Egypt. ¶9. (U) Overall, both English and Arabic speaking audience members praised the film to Press Off and condemned the war in Iraq. Without exception, these same individuals emphasized that Egyptians love Americans. While this duality was absent from NBF, it is frequently voiced on the Egyptian streets. ¶10. (U) On December 31, Press Off viewed an exhibit entitled Psych Ops as part of the Photo Cairo Festival curated by the cutting-edge Townhouse Art Gallery. The exhibit consisted of several chairs facing a television that played a genuine 1960s black and white USG psych ops training film. The film described how USG officials can win the hearts and minds of the people of Hostland. The exhibit also distributed free of charge some 2000 glossy pamphlets containing over 200 reprints of USG leaflets dropped on Iraq and Afghanistan. The pamphlets were allegedly acquired ed from various websites including centcom and ebay. The Egyptian and international audiences of Townhouse Gallery showed particular interest in these pamphlets, copies of which may now be seen on coffee tables across Cairo. END CABLE RICCIARDONE