Chahine, (Gabriel) Youssef

▪ 2009

      Egyptian filmmaker

born Jan. 25, 1926, Alexandria, Egypt

died July 27, 2008, Cairo, Egypt

crafted more than 40 films, including musicals, dramas, comedies, and historical epics. Much of his work, however, was critical of the Egyptian government and condemned social oppression and religious fanaticism; his willingness to tackle risky subjects caused some of his films to be censored, notably Al-Mohager (1994; The Emigrant), which was banned in Egypt after militant Islamists denounced it as blasphemous. Chahine directed his first film, Baba Amin (Father Amine), in 1950. Perhaps his most prominent works were Bab el hadid (1958; Cairo: Central Station), in which he played the leading role, and the autobiographical Alexandria trilogy—Iskanderija … lih? (1978; Alexandria … Why?), Hadduta misrija (1982; An Egyptian Story), and Iskanderija, kaman oue kaman (1990; Alexandria Again and Forever)—and its follow-up, Alexandria … New York (2004). In 2002 he contributed the 11-minute “Egypt” segment of the multinational collaboration 11′09″01—September 11. Chahine was one of the few Egyptian filmmakers to gain a following abroad. He was honoured in 1997 with a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Festival, and his final film, Heya fawda (2007; Chaos), was screened at the Toronto and Venice film festivals.

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