아스마 (2011)

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Asmaa or Asma'a is a 2011 Egyptian drama film, and is the first such feature film to present AIDS patients sympathetically. Written and directed by Amr Salama, the film tells the history of a woman with HIV who struggles to live under the burden of keeping her HIV status secret, and the dilemma she faces when offered the opportunity to appear on a television talk show.

Background

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, very frightening TV adverts about AIDS were broadcast in Egypt, including images of bats, blood, evil satanic prostitutes and intravenous drug use. Early films about AIDS tended to display total ignorance about the facts of the disease, and to play on fear; one such film was based on HIV being transferred by infected female Mossad agents in Taba.

In December 2011, Index on Censorship reported that "Low self esteem and fear of rejection are common sentiments shared by Egyptians living with HIV. Out of an estimated 11,000 people in Egypt living with HIV and AIDS, only 500 are seeking treatment, according to UN reports. And none has publicly disclosed their status." The strong stigma associated with AIDS prevents access to the necessary care and treatment.

AIDS patients are less likely to receive the normal sympathy that sufferers of other diseases receive, and may even be regarded as sinners. Amr Salama said:For example, in Egypt we think it's a punishment from God and we should not treat it. We think that they get it from a sin so they deserve it, and we think it's very contagious so we don't deal with them in any way. So people die from that more than they die from anything else.

Asmaa is based on true stories of AIDS sufferers whom Salama met while working on a documentary that he made about AIDS for the United Nations in 2005.

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