Youssef Chahine: An American Cinematheque Retrospective

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The American Cinematheque is honored to present a retrospective of the newly restored films by the great Egyptian filmmaker, Youssef Chahine. His films span a range of genres and tones, from the desert-adventure epic THE DEVIL OF THE DESERT to the hard-hitting historical dramas ADIEU BONAPARTE and DESTINY. Chahine was a pioneer of Egyptian and Arab cinema, introducing daring and often provocative films in an Egyptian film landscape saturated with ostentatious melodramas.

Released in the post-revolutionary and pre-nationalization era of Egypt’s film industry, CAIRO STATION arrived at a pivotal point in the nation’s history. The film, which initially shocked viewers with its depictions of repressed sexuality and working-class realities, put Chahine on the international map and expanded the possibilities of postwar Arab cinema. He was quickly recognized for his sensitive approach to depicting complexity, whether religious (THE EMIGRANT) societal (THE LAND, DARK WATERS and DAWN OF A NEW DAY) or personal, as in the third installment of his flamboyant self-reflection, ALEXANDRIA AGAIN AND FOREVER. 

Chahine bridged cultural and political divides few filmmakers had navigated before. Although his films were oftentimes criticized for being too obscure or provocative for an Arab audience, and too culturally specific for international appreciation, his portrayal of complex, taboo yet ultimately humane topics has reverberated throughout the filmmaking world. In Chahine’s words, “I make my films first for myself. Then for my family. Then for Alexandria. Then for Egypt. And if the Arab world likes them, ahlan wa sahlan [welcome]. And if the foreign audience likes them – they are doubly welcome.”