Snow White, starring Mariam Sherif, premiered in Egypt on 13 January.
This followed its world premiere at the fourth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival, where Sherif won the Best Actress Award.
Snow White is written and directed by Taghrid Abouelhassan, marking her debut feature-length film, following her short film Mercy Table (2019).
The cast also includes Mohamed Mamdouh, Mohamed Gomaa, Nihal Kamal, and Karim Fahmy.
The film follows the story of Iman, portrayed by Sherif, who navigates a journey in search of love amid daily challenges and societal prejudices against little people in Egyptian society.
“In 2019, Abouelhassan reached out to me and told me about her film idea,” Sherif told Ahram Online.
“She initially talked to the little people community about it, and they referred her to me because of my social media presence in raising awareness about little people,” Sherif added.
By blending light drama with the realistic depiction of Iman, who yearns for a conventional life, the film resonates deeply with the audience, encouraging them to reevaluate societal beauty standards.
“The script was based on insights from me and other little people,” she revealed.
“We started by making a demo film titled An Evening Dress and it gained recognition and won several awards, so we continued to film Snow White in 2022,” Sherif explained.
Iman represents not only the challenges of a little person facing bullying but also those of a working-class woman who is "underestimated," Sherif said, and struggles to support her sister while facing opposition at work.
The choice of details in Iman's character strongly reflects the theme of women’s independence. She is the decision-maker and financial provider at home. Moreover, she raised her strong-character sister.
The comedy-drama film is the first Egyptian film to respectfully portray little people without mockery or misrepresentation, conveying how a little person should not be defined by their height.
“I was excited for the film because finally someone thought out of the box (Abouelhassan) and created a story that is far from mockery. I knew that this could change people’s perspective of little people,” Sherif expressed.
“If people could sit in the movie theatre for an hour and a half to watch someone who looks different than them, it could subconsciously break a stigma one way or another,” she said, explaining the impact of the film on the audience.
The protagonist said she hopes Snow White will help people avoid staring when they see a little person walking the streets.
"Every representation in Snow White of the situation for little people in Egypt is truthful," she continued, pointing to several scenes.
"There is no accessibility in transportation, no elevators in many places, so we would have to take the stairs, which is ridiculous. People tell us to be grateful if we have a job. Some little people fear getting out of the house and being out late at night," Sherif added.
The actress strongly emphasized the stigma that the condition is genetic, so the children must inherit it.
“It is a genetic mutation that occurs without any external factors; personally, I have parents of normal stature,” she clarified.
The film includes scenes where Iman says phrases like “I’m the only one in the family that God is angry with” and “I’m 119 cm tall, not 117 cm.”
Sherif describes the experience of saying certain phrases and filming certain scenes as "triggering," not only for her but also for any little person watching. They have definitely experienced some of these obstacles in real life.
The narrative strongly highlights the themes of love and marriage, exploring the complexities of romantic relationships within the little people community.
Iman’s quest for a genuine love story, where she is accepted for her authentic self, leads her to the journey of online dating without revealing her physical appearance.
In defiance of society’s expectations, which confine her to relationships solely with small people, she bravely seeks a connection that transcends superficial expectations.
When a fellow little person falls in love with her, Iman makes a surprising choice and rejects him.
Sherif said that although the themes of love and marriage were present throughout the film, the theme of self-acceptance is what she personally preferred to portray, especially through the film’s ending when she chose to prioritize enjoying herself above everything else.
“Many little people do not accept themselves, but everything happens for a reason, and at the end of the day, everyone should embrace their true self without seeking validation or approval from others,” she concluded.
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