NEW SHEIKH ZAYED DOCUMENTARY IS AFFECTIONATE ODE TO UAE FOUNDER
▶ Film features archival footage and interviews with Al Ain residents, writes
AIf there is one major theme, it is of his love and kindness for his fellow man and nature that courses through the film NASSER AL DHAHERI
Director
new documentary about the life of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has had its premiere in Egypt. Running as part of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s programme at Cairo International Book Fair, The Millstone: Al Ain ‘The Eye’ is the First to See Dreams was screened as part of a red carpet event last Tuesday at Cinema El Hanager in the Zamalek district of the city.
The feature-length documentary provides an expansive look at the life of Sheikh Zayed. It describes some of the turbulent political context that marked the beginning of his leadership and the pioneering achievements that transformed the UAE into the economic powerhouse it is today.
Making use of historic footage from the UAE’s National Library and Archives, and interviews with former royal courtiers, political advisers and Al Ain residents, the work attempts to showcase different aspects of Sheikh Zayed’s personality, from his enduring optimism to being a staunch environmentalist.
The UAE regularly marks and celebrates the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, however, Emirati director Nasser Al Dhaheri points out that there are those outside of the region unaware of the leader’s story.
“These are the people that I am trying to reach with this film,” Al Dhaheri tells The National in Cairo.
“I created the film with that in mind, as well as the new generation within the UAE, because I do feel the lessons that we can learn are timeless,” he says.
To spread that message far and wide, he says the film will be screened in 20 international cities throughout the year, including at film festivals in London and New York.
He confirms the documentary will also be screened at Al Ain Film Festival, which is running from February 6 to 11, as well as at an event in Dubai in March.
The Millstone is also a followup to his 2015 documentary
– A Tale of Water, Palm Trees and Family. With a runtime of more than two and a half hours, it shows how the UAE’s character is shaped by landscape and people.
A Tale of Water, Palm Trees and Family was officially selected to be screened at both the London and Auckland film festivals.
Al Dhaheri says his newest offering, The Millstone took two years to finish. He spent a lot of time at the National Library and Archives trawling through hundreds of hours of historical footage of the UAE.
It included Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Hosn and a British military base in Sharjah in the 1950s, as well as one of the first public schools to open in Al Ain in 1959.
While the film loosely follows the UAE’s development chronologically, it features plenty of first-hand anecdotes about Sheikh Zayed’s dynamic personality.
“It is these stories that are really at the heart of the film,” Al Dhaheri says.
“If there is one major theme, it is of his love and kindness for his fellow man and nature that courses throughout the film.”
Al Ain-born Al Dhaheri says he remains eternally grateful to the late ruler.
“Sheikh Zayed saved my life twice. When I was young, I fell into a well and broke my bones and through the hospitals he provided, I survived,” Al Dhaheri says.
“The second time was when he gave me a pencil and book and encouraged me to write and express myself.”
The Millstone kicked off Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s programme at the book fair, which runs until February 6.
Held under the auspices of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, highlights of the centre’s offerings include the launch of a new biography of Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum, titled Umm Kulthum: Poetry and Singing, by Ahmed Youssef Ali, and a concert by Egyptian soprano Marwa Nagy.
Emirati author and Sheikh Zayed Book Award winner Maisoon Saqer will discuss her novel set in Cairo, Eye on Egypt: Cafe Riche, and there will be a reading by one of UAE’s leading poets, Kholoud Al Mualla.
Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre chairman Ali bin Tamim says the programme aims to attract a diverse crowd and showcase the dynamism of the Arabic language.
“The Cairo International Book Fair is a distinguished cultural event in the region, bringing together renowned intellectuals, authors, experts and publishing industry leaders to present innovative ideas for developing the sector,” he says.
“The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre strives to play an active role in that regard, and is participating in the fair with a rich selection of events and discussion panels that align with the Centre’s objectives to promote the Arabic language in cultural and creative fields, as well as to support Emirati and Arab creators and publishers.”
More information on the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s programme at the Cairo International Book Fair is available on its Instagram account. Tickets to Cairo International Book Fair, which is on until February 6, start at five Egyptian pounds; www. cairobookfair.gebo.gov.eg