Alexandria… Why?

1979 · 133 min · AR · NR · 6.2 (18 votes)

Dir. Youssef Chahine · Starring Mohsen Mohey ElDein, Mahmoud El Meligy, Mohsena Tawfiq, Abdullah Mahmoud, Ahmed Zaki, Naglaa Fathy · Music Fouad El-Zahry · Alexandria Quad

DramaWar

Amid the poverty, death, and suffering caused by World War II, 18-year-old Yehia, retreats into a private world of fantasy and longing. Obsessed with Hollywood, he dreams of one-day studying filmmaking in America, but after falling in love and discovering the lies of European occupation, Yehia profoundly reevaluates his identity and allegiances.

VIBE

A tender, dreamlike journey through adolescence under the shadow of war. It's a quiet, introspective film about yearning for escape, discovering love, and the painful process of confronting reality. Feels like a hazy, bittersweet memory.

melancholicnostalgicintrospectiveyearningslow-burnarthouse dramaperiod piececharacter studycoming-of-ageidentityforbidden loveescapism

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egyptworld war iicoming of ageteenage boysemi autobiographical1940salexandria egyptgay theme