Egypt

  • Hussein Kamal – Thartharah fawq al-Nil AKA Adrift on the Nile (1971)

    Drama1971-1980ArthouseEgyptHussein Kamal

    Set against the backdrop of the 1967 Six-Day War, the movie adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz’s novel follows the escapist, drug-fuelled riverboat meetings of a group of frustrated Egyptians from various walks of life.Read More »

  • Ali Badrakhan – al-Gou’ AKA The Hunger (1986)

    1981-1990Ali BadrakhanDramaEgypt

    A cinematic masterpiece produced by the revolutionary 1960s generation inspired by the folk hero myths of Nobel Prize Laureate Naguib Mahfouz. Based on his 1977 novel about the Egyptian ‘urban rabble,’ The Harafish, the film portrays the rise of a people’s hero and his rapid corruption through power. Although set in the late 19th century, ‘The Hunger’ can also be read as a commentary on present day social and political realities.Read More »

  • Salah Abouseif – She’ Mn El Azab AKA The Torment (1969)

    1961-1970DramaEgyptMysterySalah Abouseif

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    A desperate woman on the run from the police for having killed her stepfather seeks refuge in a villa of a famous artist.

    The Arabic title of the film is شيء من العذاب.
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  • Youssef Chahine – Al-mohager AKA The Emigrant (1994)

    1991-2000AdventureEgyptEpicYoussef Chahine

    The biblical tale of Joseph is told from an Egyptian perspective in this interesting character study. In this film, Joseph is called Ram. Ram, tired of his family’s backward superstitious life, and tired of being picked on by his brothers, wants to go to Egypt to study agriculture. His brothers travel with him across Sinai, but then suddenly sell him to Ozir, an Egyptian who works for a Theban military leader, Amihar. Amihar is impressed by Ram’s drive and personal charm and so grants Ram some desolate land outside the capital. Ram soon finds himself a pawn in the political and sexual games between Amihar and his wife Simihit, a high priestess of the Cult of Amun.Read More »

  • Youssef Chahine – Hadduta misrija AKA An Egyptian Story (1982)

    1981-1990ArthouseDramaEgyptYoussef Chahine

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    Boldly blending personal and political histories, intercutting its fast-moving fictional scenes with documentary footage, this sort of sequel to Alexandria – Why? follows the fortunes of Chahine’s charismatic film-maker hero and alter ego, forced to review his past and learn to love himself by a critical open-heart operation. The occasionally clumsy central conceit – Yehia/Chahine standing trial for his life during surgery – is amply offset by the energy and style of this indulgent, exuberant, and immensely likeable self-portrait.Read More »

  • Youssef Chahine – Awdat al ibn al dal AKA The Return of the Prodigal Son (1976)

    1971-1980DramaEgyptMusicalYoussef Chahine

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    In this Andre Gide adaptation, an activist (Ali Mahrez) is released after many years in prison and returns home, shaking up established relationships among his family members at the farm governed by his strict father. Demonstrating Chahine’s eclecticism, this is an elegant melodrama, exuberant musical, layered allegory, and profound portrait of personal and political disillusionment. This is one of Chahine’s best movies and one of the greatest Arabic films. Great performances by Mahmoud El-Meliguy and Hoda Soltan.Read More »

  • Kamal Selim – El azima AKA The Will (1939)

    1931-1940EgyptKamal Selim

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    Plot:
    A young couple, Muhammad and Fatima, fall in love and get married. However, their bliss is cut short when Muhammad loses his job and is forced to work as fabric salesman, without telling his wife. Some of the neighbors then scheme to get Fatima to see her husband working as a fabric salesman. Things turn around when his reason for dismissal from his old job disappears and he is rehired, and all seems well for the young couple.Read More »

  • Youssef Chahine – Al-asfour AKA The Sparrow (1972)

    1971-1980DramaEgyptWarYoussef Chahine

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    One of his most controversial films, THE SPARROW was written by Chahine in collaboration with avant-gardist Lofti el-Kholi. Set during the 1967 Six Day War between Israel and the United Arab Republic this story of familial and national divisions has become one of Chahine’s most popular films in festivals and retrospectives. A young policeman’s adoptive father occupies a high post in the force, while his biological father is reputed to have been a left-wing activist. Raouf begins to search for those who might have known his real father, while his half-brother, stationed on the Sinai front, prepares for battle.Read More »

  • Amr Salama – Lamoakhza AKA Excuse My French (2014)

    2011-2020Amr SalamaComedyEgypt

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    A Christian kid suddenly is forced to go to a public school after his father dies and because of a misunderstanding everyone thinks that he’s a Muslim.Read More »

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