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Post by manfromplanetx on Sept 24, 2021 22:46:12 GMT
Egypt has enjoyed a strong cinematic tradition since the art of film making was first developed and has a flourishing film industry based in Cairo. Of the more than 4,000 short and feature-length films made in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa ) region since 1908, more than three-quarters were Egyptian films. The silent film Laila (1927) is notable for being Egypt’s first full-length feature. Cairo's film industry became a major regional force with the coming of sound, during the 1930s over 40 feature films were produced. The 1940s through to the 1960s are generally considered the golden age of Egyptian cinema. In the 1950s Egypt's cinema industry was the world's third largest. Gamal Abdel Nasser was formally elected president in June 1956 after an overthrow of the monarchy in 1952. Nasser's modernization policies included control over the film industry. By 1966, the Egyptian film industry had been nationalized, considered by some critics and artists to have stifled innovative trends and to have sapped Egyptian cinema of its dynamism. It can be argued however that during this period of the late 1950s and 60s, classic Egyptian films account for 44 of the best 100 Arab films produced in this era. Throughout the 1970s, Egyptian films sought to strike a balance between politics and entertainment, the rise of basic formula movies aimed at making a quick buck saw the Egyptian film industry in sharp decline as audiences lost interest. Moving into the 1980s the number of films produced dropped dramatically from nearly 100 movies a year in the industry's peak down to around a dozen in 1995. Since the 1990s, Egypt's cinema has branched in different directions. Smaller art-house films attract international attention but are sparsely supported at home. Increasingly, wary of the perceived immorality of film, popular films for local audiences are mostly broad-based domestic comedies… Established in 1976 to “enhance the role of Egypt in the world of filmmaking and cinema and to serve as a bridge between the cultures of the world” is the annual internationally accredited film festival The Cairo International Film Festival… Do you have any thoughts on Classic Egyptian Cinema, classic film recommendations to share ?... Henri Barakat (11 June 1914 – 27 May 1997) Egyptian filmmaker Henri Barakat left a legacy of over 100 films, many of those still remain at the top of any best list covering the history of Arab classic cinema. The quality of Barakat’s celebrated films can be attributed to his interest in literature – he adapted dozens of novels written by renowned authors such as Taha Hussein, Youssef Idris, Sekina Fouad, Latifa Al-Zayat and Ihsan Abdel-Kodous. Varying in content and genre, Barakat created political, historical & social films, light-hearted comedies and even musicals. His films were also marked by a progressive portrayal of women, a central focus to several of his films are enlightened ideas in relation to the status of women in patriarchal and conservative societies. Arguably his finest films are The Prayer of the Nightingale (1959), A Man In Our House (1961), The Sin (1965) and The Open Door (1964). دعاء الكروان, The Prayer of the Nightingale (1959) is an adaptation of Taha Hussein’s 1949 novel “The Call of the Curlew”. Hussein was a notable Muslim writer interested in a woman’s fate in an Islamic society. His bold story tells of Amna (Faten Hamama) an innocent young peasant woman forced by life’s circumstances to change into a bitter and revengeful person, following her sister’s tragic affair with an upper-class womaniser, engineer (Ahmed Mazhar). With dark melodramatic ingredients from film noir, the film has an outstanding screenplay, the mesmerising cinematography of Wahid Farid completes image by image a black and white masterpiece of cinematic art. Veering away from the novels ending, author Taha Hussein who also supervised was comfortable in accepting the modified cinematic climax of visionary director Henri Barakat… Highly Recommended ! Faten Hamama "The First Lady of Egyptian and Arabic Cinema" the distinguished actress was revered as an icon in Egyptian and Middle Eastern cinema, she substantially helped improve the cinema industry in Egypt, emphasizing the importance of women in cinema and Egyptian society
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Post by vegalyra on Sept 24, 2021 23:30:29 GMT
Very interesting write up and reviews of some Egyptian film. I’m not familiar at all with their contribution to world cinema so it’s very fascinating. Thank you for sharing.
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Post by london777 on Sept 25, 2021 0:30:28 GMT
In the 1950s Egypt's cinema industry was the world's third largest. Thanks, planetx. Always coming up with good stuff. I find the above fact astonishing. I woud never have guessed that. I will try to see The Prayer of the Nightingale (1959) My collection includes four films by Youssef Chahine, of which the best is Cairo Station (1958). It is rather similar to Mexican Golden Age movies in its histrionic stylings and to post-war Bunuel in its sympathy for the downtrodden. Moving and tragic. The other movies I have by him are: Alexandria... Why? (1979) An Egyptian Story (1982) Alexandria Again and Forever (1989) They are all autobiographical, but each in a different style as Chahine struggles to achieve one of his own. The first is like Italian neo-realism. He is a youth in war-time Egypt as the nation struggles to break the grip of British colonialism. Many hoped that the Nazis (who reached the outskirts of Alexandria) would do the job for them. (I think they might have been disappointed had that happened). The second, (and I did not realise this at the time of watching), is a blatant rip-off of Bob Fosse's All That Jazz (1979), with strong helpings of A Matter of Life and Death (1946) and Fellini's 8½ (1963). (I suppose if you are going to steal, you might as well steal from the best). The protagonist argues his case while undergoing a life-threatening operation, calling in witnesses from his past life. It is all done in a slapdash minimal-budget fashion, but still ends up as its own thing. The third film is different again. The protagonist is now an internationally respected director, but a psychological mess as he fails to juggle the demands of his career, his family, his mistress and his homosexual infatuation for his leading man. This is in a more subdued, intimate style. Influence of Antonioni?
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Post by manfromplanetx on Sept 25, 2021 6:06:12 GMT
In the 1950s Egypt's cinema industry was the world's third largest. Thanks, planetx. Always coming up with good stuff. I find the above fact astonishing. I woud never have guessed that. I will try to see The Prayer of the Nightingale (1959) My collection includes four films by Youssef Chahine, of which the best is Cairo Station (1958). It is rather similar to Mexican Golden Age movies in its histrionic stylings and to post-war Bunuel in its sympathy for the downtrodden. Moving and tragic. Hi there lonfon777 A wonderful introduction to Youssef Chahine, now looking over his films I realize I have his film Al-Ard (1969) tucked away somewhere, it is going to be my next watch, a bit like the Nightingale it is a long forgotten film, I cannot remember anything about. I like the look of Cairo Station thanks so much ! ....
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Post by manfromplanetx on Oct 9, 2021 22:44:35 GMT
Salah Abu Seif (May 10, 1915 – June 23, 1996) was one of the most famous Egyptian film directors, he is considered to be a founding father of Neorealist cinema in Egypt. Salah Abu Seif directed over 40 films all are considered Egyptian classics with 11 films in the Top 100 Egyptian films list. The innovative filmmaker pioneered shooting on location, often in places none of his predecessors had ever dared to visit, like brothels and impoverished areas whose existence had never been officially acknowledged. شباب إمرأة , Youth of a Woman (1956) A devout young man named Imam arrives from a rural village in Cairo to finish off his studies. He rents a comfortable room from a rich and successful widow. An attractive femme fatale Shafaat (Taheyya Kariokka) she soon seduces the strong and handsome young man. She teaches naïve Imam a lot about life, but next to her he forgets all his obligations to his family, forgets about studying and his religion. Imam struggles to break away from his misguided distraction, meanwhile in the shadows his childhood love Shadia is dismayed at his neglect of her… Broken with light-hearted moments this dramatic film is a highly entertaining cinematic tale. It is a classic big budget epic showcasing the very best talents of 1950s Egyptian cinematic art... Taheyya Kariokka was a very popular Egyptian belly dancer and film actress, she married 17 times ! Shukry Sarhan the Egyptian actor is regarded as one of the greatest Egyptian actors of all time, having participated more than any other actor in The Greatest 100 Egyptian films... Shadia was the stage name of Fatma Ahmed Kamal Shaker, an Egyptian actress and singer. She was famous for her roles in light comedies and drama in the 1950s and 1960s. Shadia was one of the iconic actresses and singers in Egypt and the Middle East region and a symbol of the golden age of Egyptian cinema. Her movies and songs are still popular in Egypt and throughout Arab World. Critics consider her the most successful comprehensive Egyptian and Arabic artist of all time
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Post by manfromplanetx on Oct 9, 2021 22:54:06 GMT
لا أنام , Sleepless aka I Can’t Sleep (1957) Directed by Salah Abu Seif. This outstanding melodramatic film follows the intricate story of Nadia Lutfi, a daughter of divorced parents who suffers from Electra complex, which drives her to intervene in her father's relationships… Nadia, is a spoiled young woman, who has developed a strong but somewhat unhealthy relationship with her father. When her father meets a new woman and falls passionately in love, Nadia deeply feels the loss of her father's love. She schemes and deliberately sets plans in motion to ruin the close relationship her father now has with Safia his beautiful new wife. This film is an adaptation of a 1956 novel by Ishan Abdul Quddus, a very famous author and screenwriter in the Arab world. When the novel was released, the public was shaken, simply because this was the first ever depiction of an evil female protagonist. When the movie was announced the public largely anticipated it and got exactly what they’d expected… with just a few changes. Censorship laws insisted that the protagonist ending be changed into something worse to match her villainy… There are some similarities with Bonjour Tristesse, the first book by French novelist Françoise Sagan, published in 1954 which became the subject of a film adaptation from Otto Preminger in 1958. Salah Abu Seif's film is an absolute melodramatic masterpiece and remains a significant work in the history of Egyptian Classic Cinema. “I Can’t Sleep” was one of Egypt’s first colour films, it brought together many of the biggest stars of the day, among them, the mythical couple of Egyptian cinema: Faten Hamama and Omar Sharif. The elaborate settings and costumes present a luxurious and shimmering universe, the story plot has everything to attract and engage a wide audience: love, seduction, jealousy, betrayal and dark revenge. It is an Egyptian soap opera, accompanied with a sumptuous atmospheric score, highlighted with flights of melodramatic violins, from Fouad Al Dhahery, a renowned composer of cinema music. The production was an important progressive step in Egyptian cinema, mainly because it dared to break the rules of propriety and the conventions that up until then, had strictly governed the development of characters and themes. Director Salah Abou Seif and his screenwriter show a particular audacity for the heroine played by popular star Faten Hamama. Frightened at first taking on such a role, she must play a young girl who feels an almost incestuous love for her father, a love that leads her to do everything to destroy his happiness, a disturbed unhappy young girl who spreads misfortune all around her. With incredible talent Faten Hamama was able to portray all the complexity of Nadia, opening the film her inimitable voice narrates in the tone of confession her torment introducing the tragic story. “I Can’t Sleep” has been selected amongst the very best Egyptian films. Due to its controversial topic, the epic film has rarely been shown on television but nevertheless it has maintained great popularity. Move over Douglas Sirk , this Egyptian classic لا أنام , Sleepless is now my #1 favourite melodramatic classic film… Highly Recommended !! Omar Sharif as Aziz and Mariam Fakhr Eddine as Safia
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Post by manfromplanetx on Oct 10, 2021 21:10:13 GMT
In the 1950s Egypt's cinema industry was the world's third largest. My collection includes four films by Youssef Chahine, of which the best is Cairo Station (1958). It is rather similar to Mexican Golden Age movies in its histrionic stylings and to post-war Bunuel in its sympathy for the downtrodden. Moving and tragic. Hi there london777, having struggled once again through Al Ard ("The Earth", 1968), no wonder I could not remember anything the subtitling we have for this film is poor and obviously large chunks of important dialogue remain in Arabic... Last night thanks to your excellent recommendation we watched Youssef Chahine's film set over one eventful day at the Ramses Railway Station in Cairo. Melodrama and shades of noir thriller, neorealist social drama and tragic love story all in one, certainly a masterful feature film by the acclaimed Egyptian director. Throughout his career Chahine often attracted controversy due to his liberal views, his portrayal of sexuality and for his bold political critique. Cairo Station is where Egypt meets, a clash of people and classes all converge here with their own story. The trains keep rolling in and out with relentless precision, interspersed are human stories of mundane lives struggling to earn a meager living, of the collision of ideologies, furtive romance, kindness, broken hearts and dark sexual obsession. Did you put this on the Train Thread ? certainly a wonderful dynamic depiction of train movements for the enthusiasts...also could fit with the recent thread on mental health classics. Director Youssef Chahine gives a tremendous performance playing the unstable character Qinawi. Breaking away from melodramas and comedies Cairo Station shocked viewers when first released, it was a style of film that Egyptian audiences were not used to. Rejected by the public at the time, however the film received appraisal from critics, today it ranks among the significant features of Classic Egyptian cinema... Behind the camera Director Youssef Chahine Youssef Chahine as Qinawi and Hind Rostom as Hannuma
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Post by manfromplanetx on Oct 12, 2021 0:07:19 GMT
Atef Salem (July 23, 1927 – July 30, 2002) Was an acclaimed Egyptian director who enriched Egyptian cinema with many prominent films, Salem is credited with over 50 feature films, family drama and historical, his favourite movie genre was socio-drama, many of his film projects were developed and based on the crime columns he sourced from Egyptian newspapers. Salem's first film Al-Hirman (Deprivation) was completed in 1953 his last film was Fares Dahr Al-Khayl which he completed while wheelchair bound in 2001. Three of his films: Ga'luni mugrim (1954), Al-Namrud, and Ihna al-talamza (1959) were produced with screenwriting from author Naguib Mahfouz, the only Egyptian writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Notably his film 1954 Ga'luni mugrim They Made A Criminal of Me caused a lot of public debate and led to an amendment to Egypt's penal code to remove the crimes of a first-time offender from his criminal record… تاريخ مع المجهول , Maw'id Ma'a Al-Maghul , Date with the Unknown (1959) Composed much like an American thriller of the era this is a classic Egyptian film noir starring Omar Sharif. He stars with a great performance as Magdi, having arrived from abroad he hopes to find out more about the mysterious circumstances under which his brother was killed. His brother was the director of a large company who had suspected embezzlement and behind the scenes further serious organized criminal activity. Filmed on the coast around Alexandria an opening voiceover from Magdi introduces the background of the story. Many of the characters seem to have something to hide. Growing anxious smoking cigarette after cigarette Magdi is confronted with a series of riddles in his quest for answers as to who killed his brother and why. Torn between two lovely co-stars he despairs: Who does he really love, his wife or his mistress? who is really his wife? what is she hiding from him?... Date with the Unknown is a very entertaining drama, the dramatic edge of the story becomes slightly uneven with the introduction of the colourful character Nana, played by the famous belly dancer/actress Samia Gamal. However Gamal compensates enhancing the wonderfully steamy scenes and she delights with her unique dancing talents in an atmospheric Middle Eastern night club scene! ... Omar Sharif and Hala Shawkat as Nadia the man in between Nana, Samia Gamal and Omar Sharif
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Post by manfromplanetx on Oct 13, 2021 0:13:42 GMT
في بيتِنا رَجِل , There Is a Man in Our House (1961) Henri Bakakat directed this taut patriotic romantic thriller, it is one of the many highlights from the “Golden Years” of Classic Egyptian Cinema. Based on a famous novel by Ihsan Abd Al-Qudus, the film chronicles the Egyptian resistance to the British occupation before the 1952 revolution. The screen story also appears to be loosely based upon the assassination of the Egyptian president, though not named, Mahmoud El Nokrashy Pashaand. A liberal monarchist Pashaand outlawed the popular progressive religious, and social movement, “The Muslim Brotherhood” and was subsequently gunned down soon after in December 1948. Omar Sharif plays Ibrahim, a member of the Egyptian Revolutionary Resistance who is forced to go on the run after a hit on the president, he seeks safe refuge in the home of a simple family indifferent to political unrest... Sharif, gives a compelling performance giving life to a committed anti-colonialist political activist, his exceptional in-depth characterization here marks a maturing and major shift in his career. Sharif’s star charisma is indisputable drawing much attention to him and international recognition. Directed with masterly precision by Henri Barakat, A Stranger In My House gives a fascinating incisive insight to this turbulent period of Egyptian history, a period of organized resistance to the imperialist occupation of their country. In the background with great emotional depth is a poignant romantic element, in part the tale is a domestic social drama and obviously, the film is rich in cultural detail. Barakat’s film is a testament to the outstanding quality of Egyptian cinematic art, and also to Egypt’s enduring resilience against tyranny… Highly Recommended !! A large scale impressive opening scene, a re-enactment of anti imperialist sentiment...
Zubaida Tharwat credited with "the most beautiful eyes in classic Egyptian cinema". During her career, she was given many nicknames such as "The Pussycat of Arabic Cinema", "Magic Eyes" and "The Queen of Romance"…
Omar Sharif, you only had to look into his eyes to see that he was destined for the big leagues. His star charisma is indisputable…
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Post by mortsahlfan on Nov 14, 2021 16:02:26 GMT
I've been a fan for a while and went through a fun phase, and if anyone can recommend any - please do. I think I had problems finding subtitles.
My first and favorite (not the best, though) was "Chitchat On The Nile" which is on archives.org
-Cairo 30' -Cairo Station -There Is A Man In Our House
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Post by mortsahlfan on Nov 18, 2021 15:15:23 GMT
Empire M - 7.5/10 This is on Amazon Prime - check it out.. I don't want to say too much about it, but if I don't, no one will see it. It's a movie about an Egyptian mother who works in a high-position for the Ministry of Education, with very pro-democratic ideals, but also with six kids who are growing up and becoming individuals. She encourages them to express themselves, to be themselves, but also wants them to be responsible. She is a widow who wants time for herself and her love life, and things finally become too much, and the kids tell their mother they want this democratic idealism in their home. The movie is full of very good dialogue with these discussions. All the characters are likable, and when they discuss their plight, sacrifice, desires, and current/future state of the family, each one has a point. Written by the wonderful writer Mahfouz, it's also light-hearted and comedic at times.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Nov 19, 2021 0:06:32 GMT
Thanks so much mortsahlfan Looks like an excellent recommendation, now on my next order. It is a a lovely image of Faten Hamama , "Chitchat On The Nile" (1971) and the other films of director Hussein Kamal all look to be must see Egyptian classic cinema. Kamal's film preference is noted for being straight and simple. Easy-to-comprehend plots and melodrama, he once said... "I'm more an entertainer than anything else, a call-back to the era of big studio entertainment movies we all loved." Hussein Kamal an Egyptian filmmaker often described as the director with the most consecutive box office successes... On set the director and the women stars of Anf w Thalath Oyoun , Three Faces of Love (1972)
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Post by manfromplanetx on Nov 20, 2021 0:29:34 GMT
Umm Kulthum (Dec 1898- Feb 1975) was an Egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress, prolifically active from the 1920s to the 1970s. Kulthum is regarded as one of the greatest singers and the most influential in the history of Arab music. Given the honorary title 'Star of the East' She is considered a national icon in her native Egypt, having been dubbed "The voice of Egypt" and "Egypt's fourth pyramid". وداد, , Weddad , “Song of Hope” (1936) Directed by Ahmed Badrakhan, Fritz Kramp and Gamal Madkoor This very entertaining musical romance was the screen debut of Umm Kalthoum, the tale of a merchant who has to sell the slave he is in love with, was inspired from Omar Khayyam's One Thousand and One Nights. Highly successful with audiences it was the biggest Middle Eastern production of its time. The classic film was the first major production for Studio Misr which went on to become a leading Egyptian studio, equivalent in scale to Hollywood's major studios. Ahmed Allam and Umm Kulthum in Wedad
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