El Sett Movie Review
A thunderous roaring crowd, chanting a female's name in unison. The energy is electric, the lights are flashing, and the house is full. After a while, the curtains pull back, revealing a star-studded singer and an orchestral backing. Who is she? Where did she come from? What led her to this very moment? From an outsider's perspective, I could tell she is beloved by nearly everyone in the theater. It was almost as if she'd unified an entire nation. Her beautiful sunglasses and elegant dress were marks of a woman who'd clearly earned her stripes. I wish I could've been there to witness such an exhibition. At the same time, anti-war chants echo in the audience. There is disdain about current global tensions with Israel. Out of nowhere, a man rushes the stage and knocks her over. Audible gasps ring out as further confusion fills the air. We're jerked back in time to the turn of the 20th century. Life was very different back then for her, being in a more rural setting. From here on out, we'd become thoroughly familiar with the "Star of the East", a transformative female voice in a country of tradition.
El Sett was a dramatic, dazzling movie about a life well-lived and a voice well-traveled. Umm Kulthum was arguably the most famous Egyptian singer of all time. She came from humble beginnings to ultimately deliver on the biggest of stages. Fighting to remain on top proved to be a gigantic undertaking for her. Egyptian society favored men over women. Never before had a female singer dominated the national zeitgeist until then. Fame and fortune took a bit of a toll on Umm, but she maintained her balance and continued to amaze with her unbridled talent. Love was an interesting concept — she fell in and out of relationships with various noblemen. She was loved by many and exuded love mainly to her career. Marital status was more of an afterthought. Men entered her life, be it in a collaborative or romantic context. Her allure was undeniable — it melted hearts everywhere she turned. But Umm rarely deviated from her bigger focus, which was her voice. She'd bask in the limelight, only to retreat into isolation. For decades, she lived alone in a luxurious mansion. This reminded me a bit of the final years of legendary opera singer Maria Callas as she also became a recluse. Unlike her, though, Umm eventually re-emerged to embrace a late-stage renaissance. She headlined global tours and continued on as a musical diva. Her legacy was already cemented. Now was time to take a victory lap or two.
A steady and quickened pace felt right. Umm's life was constantly evolving, so modeling the movie after her frantic nature added a cinematic backbone. Mixing Super-8 footage with handheld camerawork gave a documental feel. Umm invited us to join her in her life's adventures, and so any looks we got were insightful. There were numerous back-and-forth jumps in time between her past and present. Umm had been a singer from early on. Her father encouraged her to make it a full-time gig. Together with her brother Khalid, she sung at weddings and other events. Money didn't come easy for them initially. In fact, Umm was forced to dress like a boy to conceal her true gender. Nobody could be convinced she'd do well as a female vocalist. Once Umm was able to turn her voice into a money-making machine, she could finally let her guard down. From rags to riches, she'd made it in life, never forgetting her origins. Many critics of this movie pointed to the set design and costumes being overly stylized, and I couldn't agree more. If anything, I felt they added needed flavor to a story of major significance. Glamor was to be expected, so those shiny visuals matched her earned elegance. Call it fate or fortune, but Umm existed in a class of her own. Mona Zaki gave a riveting performance as Umm. Going through years of inner turmoil, her character demanded immense dedication to bring out the full arc of a woman unraveling and rebuilding herself across decades of heartbreak and resilience. Zaki fully inhabited the role and embodied a true leading lady. Her weathered face revealed wrinkles of sacrifices gone by. To build a successful career meant fighting physical and societal limitations. Zaki convinced me she was destined for the role.
At 2 hours 30 minutes, El Sett met me all the way. Such a lengthy runtime allowed for Umm's historical context to be fleshed out more. She was a melodic goddess and had infinite bravado. Love or hate her, she wouldn't back down. When she was a kid, she was grateful just to get a few cents for her singing. Later down the line, she had everything and everyone she could've ever wanted. Was Umm satisfied? I would lean toward yes. Being thrust into the spotlight awoke her inner humanitarian side. She wanted to be the gift that kept on giving back to her community. Music was her answer for a country in crisis. Be it her journalistic endeavors or enchanting songs, she became a voice of reason. After all, she was The Lady, otherwise known as El Sett. Umm trailblazed a path forward for generations to come through her humbling demeanor. War could never be forgotten and still there was hope when she walked on stage. Her grace was unmatched and her influence extended internationally. People wanted to see her and she wanted to be visible in a country ruled by conservative values. While I didn't know about Umm's story beforehand, I now can recognize a celebrated singer whose legacy lives on, well beyond the grave.
