The Farewell Song

Documentary tribute to the Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez produced in 1977 consisting of archive images of the singer during his visit to Paris in September 1974, joined by fictional scenes which take the form of a journalistic investigation. A little-known film in the filmography of Ahmed Rachedi who during this Parisian period will direct another feature film that we would very much like to see again: "A Finger in the Gear" (1973), on a screenplay by Rachid Boudjedra. The credits and some images of "La chanson de l'Adieu", released in France in December 1981 in the famous Luxor hall in Paris where more than 5,000 spectators came to see it.

Directed by Ahmed Rachedi, The Farewell Song leans on a strong ensemble — Abdel Halim Hafez, Youssef Wahby, Nagwa Fouad — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 1978.