“Bent Esmaha Zaat” (A Girl Called Zaat).
I dont watch many musalsalat because they're often too cliche or ignorant but this one is a must watch.
"Zaat” is a multi-generational story of a middle class Egyptian family that lives in Cairo. The first episode is on July 23rd 1952, the same day that King Farouk is ousted by the military, Zaat is born. Her father names her Zaat Elhema, to represent the nobility and determination of a new era. The series pulls you in on the evolution of the family, their neighbors, their district and interlaces it with the political changes of the country.The subtlety and the intricacy of the consequences of these political changes shows how Sonallah Ibrahim truly understands Egyptian society as a whole. Each episode includes non-fiction scenes of the times, along with the music and the movies of the times.The struggles that Zaat faces from the time she is born, trying to find her place in society, happen in parallel with Egypt’s struggle to find a new identity, under Nasser, then Sadat, and Mubarak. The tragedies facing both the country and Zaat are endless, and it seems like both their fates continue to jump over hurdles.One of the main themes addressed in “Zaat” is the shrinking of the middle class which forces many like Zaat’s brother to immigrate because they feel they are no longer able to fulfill their dreams in Egypt. This becomes the second wave of immigration. The first one being after the nationalization of the Suez Canal, when most of the foreigners and Egyptian Jews felt the mass xenophobia.The repercussions and disassociation of immigration are then evaluated after 9/11 when Hassan’s son decides to return to Egypt. The remaining of the middle class who do not immigrate are unable to sustain the financial realities and many attempt to find work in Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. This creates a rift in many families because the men work and live apart from their families, even this model becomes unsustainable for many when Iraq invades Kuwait.