10 Controversial Arabic Movies Directed by Youssef Chahine
Prepare to step into the captivating world of Youssef Chahine, the Egyptian maestro of the silver screen who defied convention and courted controversy to earn his rightful place in cinematic history.
Youssef Chahine is renowned for his groundbreaking approach to filmmaking and a fearless exploration of fantasy. Of the 40 Arabic movies under his belt, these are our favorites:
Al-Ard (1970)
Based on Abdel Rahman Al-Sharqawi's famous novel, “Al-Ard” revisits the Egyptian countryside through the story of a rural village's struggle against the individual interests of its powerful landowners.
- Written by Hassan Fouad
- Cast: Mahmoud El-Meligy, Yehia Chahine as Hassuna, Ezzat El Alaili, Hamdy Ahmed, Tewfik El Dekn, Salah El-Saadany Ali El Scherif, Nagwa Ibrahim
Awdet Al-Ibn Al-Daal (1976)
This masterpiece is based on the book by French author Andre Gide. The Khedive is split between his older son, who turned into a tyrant in the village, and his younger son, the exemplary absent engineer. The village waits for the younger son, who has been away for 12 years, to return. But when he does, it’s because he is desperate, and he remains under his elder brother's control.
- Written by Youssef Chahine and Farouk Baloufa
- Cast: Mahmoud El Meligy, Soheir El Morshedy, Shoukry Sarhan, Hoda Sultan, Raga Hussein, Said Aly Quwerat, Aly El Sherif, Magda El Roumy, Ahmed Mehrez, Hesham Selim, Ahmed Bedeir
Eskenderyah... Leh?
In this autobiographical drama, Chahine revisits his hometown of Alexandria to depict Egyptian society during World War II.
- Written by: Mohsen Zayed
- Starring: Naglaa Fathi, Farid Shawqi, Ezzat Al-Alaili, Youssef Wehbe, Abdullah Mahmoud, Yehia Shaheen
Hadduta Masriya (1982)
The movie is the second installment in Chahine's autobiographical "Alexandria quartet," which starts with "Eskenderyah... Leh?" and ends with "Eskenderyah – New York" (2004).
- Written by Youssef Chahine
- Starring: Nour Al-Sharif, Yousra, Suhair Al-Bably, Magda Al-Khatib, Mohamed Mounir, Mohsen Mohieldin
Eskendrya Kaman W Kaman (1990)
Yehia Eskandarany is compelled to examine his whole career after having a violent quarrel with Amr, his favorite actor. Nothing seems familiar anymore: Neither African cinema he adores so much nor his own country. Yehia recalls his debut film with Amr, in which he gradually tracked the penetration of the powerful petro-dollar into the Egyptian film industry. But is the conflict between him and Amr truly brought on by money?
- Written by Youssef Chahine
- Starring: Yousra, Amr Abdel Galil, Zaki Fateen Abdel Wahab, Hisham Selim, Tahia Carioca
Weda'an Bonapart (1985)
Set during the French Occupation of Egypt (1797-1803), this masterpiece depicts the conflict between tradition and modernization. In the context of fighting the French invaders, Napoleon's army invaded Egypt in 1798 and triumphs over the Mameluke warlords (the last defenders of Ottoman rule), and then marches on to Cairo. Three brothers who are patriotic Egyptians resent Mameluke's control the French occupation.
- Written by Youssef Chahine
- Starring: Michel Piccoli, Mohsen Mohieldin, Salah Zulfiqar, Mohsina Tawfiq, Gamil Ratib
Al Yawm Al Sades (1986)
The cholera pandemic was in full swing in Cairo in 1947. Lovely Saddika resides in a cellar with her disabled husband and little grandchild Hassan. She frequently goes to cinemas and has Prince Charming on her mind all the time. But when Hassan is infected by the illness, his mother will stop at nothing to preserve the life of her son.
- Written by Youssef Chahine
- Starring: Dalida, Mohsen Mohieldin, Shweikar, Hamdi Ahmed, Sana Younes, Salah Al-Saadani
Al Mohager (1994)
Young Ram is a thinker who has grown up in a primitive and superstitious society. He’s hated by his brothers and suspected of sorcery. Dissatisfied with the nomadic lifestyle of his family, he dreams of traveling to Egypt to study agriculture.
Sensing inclement weather, Ram saves the family's flocks from a destructive sandstorm and manages to persuade his father to let him leave for Egypt.
- Written by Youssef Chahine
- Starring: Mahmoud Hamida, Yousra, Khaled El Nabawy, Ahmed Badir, Safia El Omary, Michelle Piccoli
Al-Masir (1997)
Ibn Rushd, an influential Islamic scholar, lives in 12th-century Andalusia with his wife Zeinab and daughter Sara. Khalifa ElMansour, the principality's ruler, has two sons: ElNasser, an academic who admires Ibn Rush and is in love with his daughter. Abdallah, the younger son, is more interested in dance and poetry, spending much of his time with the gypsy family and attempting to get the daughter pregnant. The Khalifa has turned to extremists to build up his army, giving them greater authority for facing artists and thinkers. The extremists recruit Abd Allah and instruct him to assassinate his father. Marwan, the gypsy musician, was slain, and Ibn Rushd's writings were burned. Adapted from the real life story of Ibn Rushd AlMasir, Chahine makes a bold statement against extremism.
- Written by Youssef Chahine
- Starring: Nour El-Sharif, Laila Elwi, Safia Al-Omari, Khaled Al-Nabawi, Hani Salama, Mahmoud Hamida, Mohamed Mounir, Rogina
Heya Fawda (2007)
Hatem is an unethical police officer who fancies his neighbor Nour. Nour prefers the prosecutor, Sherif, encouraging Hatem to use force to earn Nour's attention.
- Written by Nasser Abdel Rahman
- Starring: Khaled Saleh, Menna Shalaby, Youssef El Sharif, Hala Fakher, Hala Sedky