An Egyptian Story

Starring:Oussama Nadir, Mohsen Mohieddin, Nour El-Sherif, Ahmed Mehrez, Mohamed Mounir, Ragaa Hussein, Seif El Dine, Youssra, Hanan, Leila Hamada, Magda El-Khatib, Raga El Geddaoui, Soheir El Monasterli, Andrew Dinwoodie, Abdel Hadi Anwar, Abdel Aziz Makhyoun, Soheir El-Bably, Mahmoud El-Meliguy, A. Abdel Hadi, Abdalla Mahmoud
Director: Youssef Chahine
Studio: Fox Lorber
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The second of Youssef Chahine's autobiographical Alexandria Trilogy takes place largely in the mind of Chahine's cinematic alter ego, Yehia Mourad (Nour El Cherif), or, to be more accurate, his torso. Rushed into emergency open-heart surgery after an on-set heart attack, Yehia is put through a fantasy trial in a courtroom situated in his rib cage (a rather theatrical-looking contraption of white sheets draped over wooden ribs) as he flashes back on his life. Chahine embraces the absurdity of the silly device with fanciful fun (his inner child rebels against the stodgy grownup by crawling through his veins and undoing the surgery) but it's the flashbacks that carry the film's power. Think of it as Chahine's All That Jazz, only less flashy and more thoughtful. The young director struggles within the industry, sacrificing his vision and his politics in commercial compromises, sacrificing his family for his art, still dreaming of Hollywood while toiling in the low-budget environs of Egypt.

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Following the successful 1998 video release of Cats comes another Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and it's a savvy choice. It hasn't been represented on film before, it's short enough (78 minutes) to present without cuts, and it has the star power of former teen icon Donny Osmond, who played over 1,800 performances across North America. Rather than record a live performance, Cats director David Mallet conceived Joseph as a film, though one that is based strongly on codirector Steven Pimlott's 1991 London revival and relies more on camerawork than venturing beyond its stagelike sets.

Lloyd Webber's first project with lyricist Tim Rice was originally written in 1968 as a school cantata; accordingly, this film uses a framing sequence of a school recital, with an audience of clapping, singing kids and members of the faculty playing the roles. The Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, and Elvis. Osmond is perfect in the title role, with a strong voice and winning persona, while London stage veteran Maria Friedman performs well in the central role of the narrator. Richard Attenborough appears (and sings a little) as Jacob, and Joan Collins makes a brief, nonsinging cameo.

Description

During the Exodus, one of the most famous miracles of the Old Testament took place. More than 3000 years have passed since Moses led two million Israelites across the Red Sea and out of the bondage of Egypt. It is a topic that so fascinated Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille that he made The Ten Commandments, twice. Steven Spielberg also took on the story in The Prince Of Egypt. Now The Exodus Revealed follows the footsteps of the children of Israel on an unforgettable journey of discovery. A journey that reveals physical evidence for the Exodus, including: the remains of 3800 year old Hebrew settlements in Egypt's Nile Delta; Egyptian records of the Israelites' bondage under Pharaoh; the precise route they may have followed to freedom; their crossing site on shore of the Red Sea; and the location of Mt. Sinai.

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Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power
Starring: Prof. Dorothy Thompson , Lucy Hughes-Hallett , Professor Peter Green , Dr. Robert Bianchi , and Anjelica Huston
Director: Katherine Gilday
Manufacturer: Questar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Cleopatra
Cleopatra
Ancient Mysteries: Incredible Monuments of Rome
Tutankhamun - Tut: The Boy King
Antony and Cleopatra

ASIN: B00000JYWV
Release Date: 2000-08-15

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Who was Cleopatra? Most think of a sultry Elizabeth Taylor seducing the Roman Empire through its leaders. But history has been written by the winners, and the successors of the Romans painted her with their own colors. Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power examines her life through contemporary Egyptian sources, from her Greek birth through her canny 20-year rule of Egypt. Anjelica Huston narrates this powerful and thought-provoking film that uses often-funny footage from Hollywood, contemporary shots of the Mediterranean, and interviews with historians to show a strong woman whose nobility survives centuries of slander. The formerly one-dimensional queen lives and breathes for the viewer of Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power. --Rob Lightner

Description

For centuries, the real Cleopatra has been shrouded behind legends and myths. Roman and Greek accounts—the records most widely scrutinized—have portrayed the queen of Egypt as a brazen temptress who corrupted both Caesar and Marc Antony. But was this portrait an accurate one? Cleopatra: The First Woman of Power considers the legendary queen from the perspective of the Egyptians. Their records portray her as a visionary ruler and brilliant strategist, motivated not by wanton lust or greed but a genuine concern for her kingdom. The Egyptians saw Cleopatra as a strong leader who won the loyalty of a distrustful populace, resisted Roman rule for 20 years and amassed a fortune so great that Rome's interest rates dropped by two-thirds when her treasure was brought there upon her death. This program utilizes re-enactments, original location footage and interviews with leading historians to look behind the legends and shed light on this woman who has captivated generations.

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A magic carpet ride that is exotic, romantic and realistic
Youssef Chahine Master Filmmaker
Mix of styles worth your time
Artistic and insightful
Great quality, at times too much art

An Egyptian Story
Starring: Oussama Nadir , Mohsen Mohieddin , Nour El-Sherif , Ahmed Mehrez , and Mohamed Mounir
Director: Youssef Chahine
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Alexandria...Why?
Alexandria Again and Forever
Halfaouine: Boy of the Terraces
Man of Ashes
Paradise Now

ASIN: 6305949182
Release Date: 2000-08-14

Amazon.com

The second of Youssef Chahine's autobiographical Alexandria Trilogy takes place largely in the mind of Chahine's cinematic alter ego, Yehia Mourad (Nour El Cherif), or, to be more accurate, his torso. Rushed into emergency open-heart surgery after an on-set heart attack, Yehia is put through a fantasy trial in a courtroom situated in his rib cage (a rather theatrical-looking contraption of white sheets draped over wooden ribs) as he flashes back on his life. Chahine embraces the absurdity of the silly device with fanciful fun (his inner child rebels against the stodgy grownup by crawling through his veins and undoing the surgery) but it's the flashbacks that carry the film's power. Think of it as Chahine's All That Jazz, only less flashy and more thoughtful. The young director struggles within the industry, sacrificing his vision and his politics in commercial compromises, sacrificing his family for his art, still dreaming of Hollywood while toiling in the low-budget environs of Egypt.

Fans of Chahine will recognize startling re-creations of two of his most famous films, Cairo Station and The Sparrow, but you don't need to know his work to feel the strain of his conflicts. Inspired by his real-life bypass surgery and the self reassessment it triggered, Chahine is more critical than you might expect; he forgives himself his sins, naturally, but never quite lets himself off the hook. Followed by Alexandria Again and Forever, which stars Chahine himself as Yehia. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

A magic carpet ride that is exotic, romantic and realistic.......2005-01-01

For now I can only write a few lines, it's 10.29 PM ET, here in the United States of America, and I am sitting on the threshold awaiting 2005 to enter my life. And yes, this is what I did tonight, instead of going out to celebrate the new year, I stayed home and watched the Alexandria Trilogy, one after the other, 1,2,3.

Indeed this is the best, and only way, to watch such a rich, colorful, exotic series. I knew nothing of Youssef Chahine until about ten days or so ago, and am I ever so glad I heeded the reviews here, at amazon, and indulged my whim of renting his Alexandria Trilogy as well as two of his other films.
The Trilogy is a keeper and I will purchase it soon, most likely after I finish watching Chahine's next two films, Destiny and The Emigrant.
I will return to write a longer review because this series is worth it, and not only because of being exotic and romantic, but also, because it's educative. More of us Americans should watch foreign films... truly today's world is a global village.
Happy New Year, y'all! Slainte.

Youssef Chahine Master Filmmaker.......2003-05-22

eskinderia leeh? is simply one of the best, well made movies of all time, the movie shows different form of loves and how they all got stuck because of one thign, WW2. the movie also shows the life in the mother of the world, egypt....and how magical alexandria is....the movie is very well made with egypt's all star cast...a must c movie... ...BUY THE MOVIE

Mix of styles worth your time.......2002-07-26

An interesting mix of the struggles of an independent international filmmaker, combining surrealism and recent Egyptian history.
There are elements of "8 1/2" and "All That Jazz" in the story of a film maker who faces a trial in which the child and young man he was testify against the person he has become. The surrealist settings are cheap but fun and the central performance is nicely done. The many characters and switches in time are a bit complex and it helps to have a little knowledge of modern Egyptian history, but there is humor and insight worth your time.

Artistic and insightful.......2001-03-05

This is the second part of Chahine's Alexandria Trilogy. The first part "Alexandria, why?" is a biography and courageous self-examination of his adolescent years. This part moves on to examine his adult life. It is, again, a very courageous, honest, and insightful self-trial of himself as an adult and his choices in his professional life as a movie director, as well as in his personal and family life. His artistic talents as a director and his creative thinking are reflected in his representation of his turbulent relationship with his inner child. This is another distinguished piece of work by this talented movie director and a must-have for those who appreciate his art.

Great quality, at times too much art.......2000-11-23

I am going to divide my review to three parts, the basic reproduction / packaging, the subtitles and last the actual art:

The basic reproduction is good in comparison to any other Egyptian movies you can buy. Good is by no means very good nor excellent

The subtitling is very poor. It is very clear and will help keep non-Arabic speakers in the game, but it is seriously inaccurate and in my view often distorts the meaning of the movie. I was particularly amazed to see things like "damn you all" being translated into "fxxk you all". It is truly absurd to subtitle anger into profanity

As to Youssif Chahine own work, it is very clever, at times way too clever. The symbolism goes to the extreme that you just end up going in circle. See how clever and symbolic I can be

The presentation of the gay side of Mourad is certainly brave, but does not seem to be much more than a "dare" game, often it is unclear why it is there and what impact does it have on the whole thing, except for possibly the middle film

As to the camera work, direction, music, acting etc. it is all excellent, well above anything else coming out of Egypt in the last 25 years or so. The real shame is to be the only really good moviemaker in Egypt and to use this to make such narrow movies with too much symbolism.

At any rate, make no mistake about it this is great stuff

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