Sersawi’s book, “Madiha Kamel: The Years of Appearance and Disappearance”, was published this year by Al-Rewaq Publishing House.
He told Al-Fanar Media that writing about the late actress was always on his mind. “I wanted to explore her artistic and private world as someone who is looking for a magical door into her own portrait,” he said.
Born in 1946, Madiha Kamel had a career in acting that spanned three decades before her death in 1997. In his research, Sersawi visited the archives of national newspapers, the Egyptian Catholic Center for the Cinema, and the National Library and Archives of Egypt. He browsed news, articles, and documents to reflect on Kamel’s life in a book he intended to be a “rose on her grave.”
In his work, Sersawi sought to weave Kamel’s personal life into all stages of her artistic career.
“Since her childhood, she was a star in sports, playing music and writing her thoughts,” he said. “In middle school, she excelled in acting.”
The book traces her life, her marriage, and her relationship with her daughter, friends, and colleagues, besides the roles she played.
This chronological order was a decisive factor in making the book, said Sersawi. In eight chapters, Sersawi tried to capture and depict the world of the late star.
Madiha Kamel’s interviews with the press were especially revealing of new dimensions in her personality and artistic vision, Sersawi said. He describes those interviews as honest and sometimes funny when she talks about art, her roles, love, or her daughter, Mirhan.
He also noted that some conversations radiated sadness, especially those about her brother’s death, her mother’s illness, or other personal topics.