As the holy month of Ramadan is coming to an end, there are only a few good series that we would remember. One of those series is Gaziret Ghamam, an emotional epic about an island that is about to be hit by a storm, from which no one will survive except those with good hearts.
The series, written by Abdul Rahim Kamal and directed by Hussein el-Menbawy, is set 100 years ago on an island, Gaziret Ghamam, when Sheikh Madian (Abdel Aziz Makhyon), the holy Sheikh of the Island, is dying and gathered around him his three faithful students, Mohareb (Fathy Abdel Wahab), Yousry (Mohamed Gomaa) and Arafat (Ahmed Amin).
In his last few minutes, Madian utters his will, leaving his house to Yousry, his place as Sheikh of the Island to Mohareb, and Arafat, who seemed to love him dearly, nothing but a rosary and a note on which some incidents about the islanders are written.
Arafat, alone and homeless, teaches the children on the island about the love of God and how they should love themselves and each other.
However, calm on the island is disturbed by the arrival of a band of gypsies.
Gypsy leader Khaldoun (Tarek Lotfi) represents Evil and tries to dominate the island. He urges Al-Ayka (Mai Ezz El-Din) to seduce Arafat to tarnish his reputation, but when she approaches him her character changes for the better.
The series shows different meanings of faith and religion through the characters. The conservative Sheikh Mohareb is an Islamic preacher who wants to enforce strict religious observance. Yousry believes in jinn and uses talismans. Arafat is a Sufi who believes in love, peace and forgiveness.
But, when the islanders, including the sheikhs, show any weakness, Khaldoun can easily control them. The tension between Khaldoun and Arafat can have multiple political and religious interpretations. Khaldoun and his band want the island as their home. They even want a wall to divide the island.
Arafat is a carpenter, who teaches love and tolerance. He can see into people’s souls. He symbolises Christ and Khaldoun is the Devil.
What makes Gaziret Ghamam a masterpiece are the creative costumes and lighting and also the actors. Each actor, even those in small or secondary roles, are well chosen and offer an intense performance. Tarek Lotfi is convincing in portraying the concealed devil Khaldoun with his adaptable voice tones, eyes and facial expressions. Ahmed Amin also offers a natural emotional performance in Arafat, while Reyad el-Khouly, who plays el-Agamy, the island’s mayor, gives his best performance as a kind but strict ruler.
The series as a whole is a remarkable success which is worth watching.
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