In its golden age, the Egyptian film industry was distinctly characterized by placing songs, mostly romantic ones, at the forefront of movies’ plots. Musical films, in particular, were a cornerstone of an industry that rose to prominence on the shoulders of some of the biggest names in Arab music, such as Umm Kulthum, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Layla Murad, Abdel-Halim Hafez, Najat and others. In return, their movies served as a shortcut to the hearts and minds of fans who grew up associating their favourite songs with timeless scenes on the big screen.
In Black and White, these memories are evoked in a theatrical show featuring set and projection design by 59 Productions that combines music and live performance with the participation of JACC’s orchestra.