Youssef Chahine

Lore & Background

Chahine was born in Alexandria, Egypt to a Melkite Greek Catholic family. His father was an attorney from Zahle, Lebanon and a supporter of the Wafd Party; his mother, Claire Bastorous, was of Greek descent and worked as a tailor. Raised Catholic, Chahine did not believe in organized religion and would state his religion as 'Egyptian'. At home the family spoke five languages. As a child, he saved allowances to buy a 9.5mm projector and showed films to neighborhood children, sometimes forming a gang to compel attendance. He attended Victoria College in Alexandria and later studied theater and television at the Pasadena Playhouse in California, ranking first among four passing students out of 200.

After returning to Egypt, Chahine worked in 20th Century Fox's publicity department before directing his first feature film, Baba Amin, in 1950. His film Sira' fi-l-Wadi introduced Omar Sharif to the screen. Chahine won a Golden Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival for al-Ikhtiyar (The Choice) and the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival for Alexandria... Why? (1978), the first of four autobiographical films. He also directed The Sparrow (1972), the first Egypt–Algeria co-production, and The Emigrant (1994), a story inspired by the Biblical character Joseph that sparked controversy in Egypt.

Reader's Guide

Youssef Chahine's significance lies in his long career spanning from 1950 to 2008, during which he directed twelve films recognized among the Top 100 Egyptian films. His autobiographical quartet—Alexandria... Why?, An Egyptian Story, Alexandria, Again and Forever, and Alexandria...New York—explored his sexuality, personality, and family issues, often sparking controversy and censorship. Chahine's work frequently engaged with political themes, as seen in The Sparrow, which addressed the Six-Day War, and The Emigrant, which provoked debate between liberals and fundamentalists. He is credited with discovering Omar Sharif and providing early roles to actors such as Hind Rostom. His international recognition culminated in the Cannes 50th Anniversary Award for lifetime achievement in 1997. Chahine's legacy includes influencing Egyptian cinema and gaining a global audience through co-direction of 11'9"01 September 11.

Did You Know?

• Chahine's first feature film, Baba Amin, was released in 1950, two years before the Egyptian revolution of 1952.
• He won the Silver Bear – Special Jury Prize at the 29th Berlin International Film Festival for Alexandria... Why? (1978).
• Chahine's autobiographical films all take place between World War One and World War Two.
• He refused to complete another director's film and also refused an Assistant Director position, stating he had worked on Hollywood theaters beforehand.