The last film in Youssef Chahine’s autobiographical Alexandria Trilogy stars Chahine himself as his cinematic alter ego, Yehia Mourad, completing his merging of fiction with real life and drama with psychodrama. Opening with Chahine’s triumph at the Berlin Film Festival, where he took home the Silver Bear for Alexandria…Why? (the first film in the trilogy–this is layered stuff), the film explores Yehia’s obsession with his young star, Amir (Amr Abdel-Guelil), while participating in the general strike of 1987. As Yehia fantasizes about the films they would make together (one of them looks like a loony take on Jesus Christ Superstar), he elevates Amir from a kind of adopted son to cinematic messiah. But while caught up in the strike, Yehia becomes enchanted by a former actress, Nadia (Yousra), turned dedicated revolutionary, and he decides to cast her in his next feature.

1.51GB | 1 h 48 min | 1016×572 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/A906ECB22665C63/Alexandria_Again_and_Forever.mkv

Language(s):Arabic
Subtitles:English

The post Youssef Chahine – Iskanderija, kaman oue kaman AKA Alexandria Again and Forever (1989) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

Fathi Nofal Imam, an unknown but no-nonsense attorney with a taste for liquor and loose women, is assigned to take a case related to one of the local politicians. The story centers on his representation of Samira, a woman up on prostitution charges. His opponent is the Islamist lawyer Ali and both of them face a stern Muslim judge. Despite formidable obstacles, the clever Imam is able to work the crooked justice system and use religion to free Samira, after which he becomes a personal adviser for the local politician.

Outwardly presented as a light comedy, the film contains serious dramatic undertones that can be taken as a condemnation of corrupt politics and religious extremism. Written by Midhat Eladl and starring the popular Egyptian actor Adel Emam and the famous actress Youssra. Featured at the 1995 Cairo International Film Festival.

According to Andrew Hammond, author of Popular Culture in the Arab World, “In 1995 Egyptian actress Yousra was taken to court over a scene in Tuyur al-zalam (‘Birds of Darkness’) because her bare legs offended an Islamist fundamentalist sheikh, Yousef al-Bardri.” Known for pushing the boundaries of Egyptian cinema, director Sherif Arafa has said of this film: “The idea of terrorism and the government that’s in Tuyur Al-Zalam (Birds of Darkness) had to be expressed at the time. We were not just talking about the ‘opportunists’ of terrorism, there were government opportunists as well, and they are both equally dangerous. And both are terrorists. And the conflict between them will ruin the country. So be careful.”

764MB | 1h 51mn | 704×432 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/894F7994807C5B7/birds.of.darkness.mkv

Language:Arabic
Subtitles:English

The post Sherif Arafa – Tuyoor al-Zalam AKA Birds of Darkness (1995) first appeared on Cinema of the World.

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.

1.70GB | 2h 10m | 853×480 | mkv

https://nitro.download/view/4D8A61D531BB5CA/The.Emigrant.1994.NF.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.x264-ASCE.mkv

Language(s):Arabic
Subtitles:English,French

The post Youssef Chahine – Al-mohager AKA The Emigrant (1994) first appeared on Cinema of the World.