The Arab National Project in Youssef Chahine's Cinema

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by Malek Khouri

Type

Studies

Subject

Director > Youssef Chahine

Keywords

Youssef Chahine, Egypt, Middle East, politics

Publishing date

2026 (March 03, 2026)

Publisher

American University in Cairo Press

1st publishing

2010

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 308 pages
6 x 9 inches (15 x 23 cm)

ISBN

978-1-64903-521-9

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Book Presentation:
A rigorous examination of the work of Egypt’s best-known filmmaker, new in paperback

This book presents a comprehensive study of the work of Youssef Chahine. Its methodological approach, and more precisely, the discussion of the theme of Arab national unity from a post-colonial point of view, emphasizes the ideological underpinnings of this Egyptian director’s themes as well as his esthetics. Malek Khouri focuses on the interaction between Chahine’s personal and political preoccupations, his eclectic cinematic style, and his devotion to connecting with a wide audience of filmgoers.

The Arab National Project in Youssef Chahine’s Cinema is an important contribution to original scholarship in the fields of cultural studies, sociology of film, and history of cinema, and will be of great interest to scholars, students, and cinema lovers all over the world.

About the Author:
Malek Khouri is the author of Filming Politics: Communism and the Portrayal of the Working Class at the National Film Board of Canada (1939–46) and co-editor of Working on Screen: Representations of the Working Class in Canadian Cinema. He is currently director of the film program in the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at the American University in Cairo.

Press Reviews:
PRAISE FOR YOUSSEF CHAHINE:

"One of the few Egyptian filmmakers to gain an international audience in his lifetime. . . . his work stood apart for its artistic personality, empathy and willingness to tackle daring subject matter. His films were beloved in Egypt but also stoked controversy with their portrayals of sexuality, capitalism, gender, corruption and religious extremism."―Leila Latif, BFI/British Film Institute

"An extraordinary and often controversial career extending over six decades and including thirty-seven feature films. . . . Chahine's brilliance at blending convention and innovation in his portraits of Egyptian life may unsettle those with fixed ideas about the Arab world―or about the distinction between popular and art film―but they continue to fascinate and delight anyone with an open mind and a true love of cinema."―Harvard Film Archive

See the publisher website: American University in Cairo Press

See the complete filmography of Youssef Chahine on the website: IMDB ...