The Treasure: Truth & Imagination

Sherif Arafa's 2017 Egyptian film combines three separate historical periods within one narrative: the pharaonic era, the Mamluk era and the first half of the twentieth century. What connects the sections is theme rather than plot. Its stated subject is the relationship between power and religion. In each period it shows how religious authority works alongside political power and how ordinary people are affected by that arrangement. Setting up so direct a political frame is uncommon in mainstream Egyptian cinema. The production is large in scale, among the most expensive Egyptian films of its time in costume, sets and crowd work. But carrying three periods at once scatters the narrative, and most characters remain underdeveloped. The film was designed in two parts; this is the first. Who it's for: those curious about contemporary mainstream Egyptian cinema and attempts at the historical epic. Who it's not for: viewers who want to focus on one story; the film keeps changing era and completes none of them.