n a surprising decision that sparked widespread controversy in the artistic community, the Censorship Board for Artistic Works, headed by writer Abdel Rahim Kamal, announced the withdrawal of the film “The Tagamoa Killer” from cinemas, just hours after its release on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.
Reasons for the ban: Violation of the approved script and excessive violence
The Censorship Board issued an official statement on its Facebook page explaining that the decision to halt screenings and withdraw copies stemmed from the production company’s failure to adhere to the previously approved script and dialogue.
The statement read: “The Censorship Board for Artistic Works has issued its decision to halt the screening of the film and withdraw all copies from cinemas, due to the production company and filmmakers’ failure to adhere to the film’s script and dialogue. The version released for screening included scenes and events not found in the approved script or in the version submitted to the Censorship Board for final approval. Furthermore, the released version contained scenes of extreme violence and brutality, which were deemed a violation of the licensing terms.”
The censorship board continued: “The production company has been contacted to take the necessary steps to adhere to the approved script, screenplay, and dialogue, and to remove all scenes not approved by the censors, while ensuring the content complies with the age rating and screening requirements. After these instructions are implemented, the work will be resubmitted to the censorship board, and if these requirements are met, the film will be permitted to be screened again.”
It clarified: “The censorship board for artistic works affirms that it has not and will not stand in the way of art and purposeful creativity, and will continue to fulfill its role in preserving the values and traditions of society, supporting the dissemination of art and culture, promoting awareness, and building bridges of ongoing dialogue with creators of artistic works, in accordance with the approved censorship standards and regulations.”
Director Mohamed Salah El-Azab Criticizes the Decision
For his part, the writer and director of the film, Mohamed Salah El-Azab, expressed his profound shock at this measure. He launched an attack on the decision via his personal account, emphasizing that the film had obtained all “final legal, security, and censorship approvals” before its release.
He wrote on his Facebook page: “God’s will be done. After obtaining all the necessary legal, governmental, and security permits and licenses for writing, filming, and screening the movie, a sudden decision was made to remove it from cinemas after it had been shown in every screening on the eve of Eid and had achieved high revenues—a first of its kind.”
In another post, Mohamed Salah El-Azab said: “The Censorship Board for Artistic Works conducted two viewings of the film, not just one, after its complete completion, and it has been given final approval for screening.”
The film’s details and cast:
The film tells the story of Karim, a young man haunted by emptiness and loneliness on a journey of self-discovery, before choosing rebellion as a means of revenge against his family’s past. With the entry of a beautiful woman into his life, his internal conflicts erupt, leading to a series of mysterious crimes against women, in an intense psychological drama that delves into the labyrinth of obsession and human turmoil.
The film stars Ahmed El-Fishawy, Jessica Hossam El-Din, and Mariam El-Gendy. It is produced by Ahmed El-Sobky and written and directed by Mohamed Salah El-Azab.
