The Newborn by Nadia Kamel
Al-Mawlouda (The Newborn), by Nadia Kamel, (Cairo: Dar Al-Karma), 2018.
Egyptian Director Nadia Kamel has released her novel al-Mawlouda, (The Newborn), from Dar Al-Karma Publishing House.
The events of the novel are based on the life of her mother, and takes place in the first half of the 20th century, "in an Egypt that doesn't exist anymore" and before the exodus of the Jewish community from Egypt.
The protagonist of the novel, Naela, was originally born Mary Ely Rosenthal to a Jewish Egyptian father and an Italian Christian mother.
Her parents met in the 1920s in Cairo where she was later born. She joins the Communist movement and the secret underground, only to be imprisoned. She falls in love with an Egyptian journalist, whom she marries, and stands trial with after they dive deep into public affairs and politics.
The book tracks Mary's life and struggles and the hard choices in her life.
Nadia Kamel, born 1961, studied microbiology and chemistry before turning to cinema.
She worked as an assistant to many renowned directors, including Attiyat Abnoudi, Youssef Chahine and Yousry Nasrallah. She is the director and producer of the documentary Salata Balady (Local Salad).
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