◎ LOOKING FOR OUM KULTHUM ◎

Shirin Neshat, AT/DE/MA 2017, 90 min

Skype Talk with Shirin Neshat & Mohsen Farsad, Chief of nuclear medicine 

The Egyptian singer Oum Kulthum is considered the Maria Callas of the Arab world. Idolized as a national heroin, she won millions of peoples hearts over with her out of the ordinary voice, and even today 40 years from her death, her fame has faded. As a woman and artist during her life she was able to create room for herself in the patriarchal art system, and in turn became a person of worship.
In Shirin Neshat’s film we see the Iranian artist, Mitra who is fascinated by the myth of the Diva and she decides to shoot a film about her and casts the timid Ghada teacher as the perfect actress for the role. However during the course of filming Mitra will come up against the prejudice of a closed and conservative society.
The Iranian photographer and director Shirin Neshat (WOMAN WITHOUT MEN) portrays the importance and magnitude of this musical icon from the perspective of a contemporary artist. At the same time Neshat’s work is a portrayal of the battle women had to fight to gain recognition in the art world.