The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

1- Hamidou (1953)

Directed by Niazi Mostafa and written by El Sayed Bedeir. The film is based on a story by Farid Shawqi. Through Hamidou’s character, who is a fisherman and secretly a drug dealer, the film explores the impact of drugs on society and how it leads to the spread of crimes and moral decadence.

2- The Beginning and The End (1960)

The film marks the first adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz’s novels, ranked 7th  on the list of The Top 100 Egyptian Films. It’s directed by Salah Abu Seif, starring Farid Shawqi and Omar El-Sherif. The story revolves around a middle-class family suffering a financial crisis that ignites moral conflicts and confusion within the sons, causing each of them to take a different path.

3- Bus Driver (1982)

Based on an idea by Mohamed Khan, Bus Driver is directed by Atef El Tayeb and written by Bashir El-Deek. The idea was visualised on the big screen with the help of Nour El-Sherif, Emad Hamdy, and other notable celebrities. The narrative follows Hassan, the bus driver, who struggles financially and has to take another job as a taxi driver while facing rising issues and distress in his family and home.

4- Palace Walk (1964)

It was adapted from the Bayn Al-Kasrain novel, which is the first part of Naguib Mahfouz’s trilogy and is also listed in The Top 100 Egyptian Films. Directed by Hassan Al Imam, screenplay by Youssef Gohar, and starring Yahya Shaheen, Amal Zayed, and Salah Qabil, the film follows the life of Abdel Jawad’s Family in Cairo during the British occupation and before the 1919 revolution. It focuses on people’s lives during that time.

5- The Impossible (1965)

The film is adapted from a novel by Mostafa Mahmoud and is yet another masterpiece on The Top 100 Egyptian Films list. It’s directed by Hosny Kamal and formulated by Youssef Francis. The film stars Nadia Lotfy and Kamal El-Shennawi. The drama follows Helmy, whose father controls all of his life decisions, and how Helmy tries to break free after his father’s passing.

6- The Sin (1965)

Adapted from a novel by Youssef Idris, it is ranked 5th in The Top 100 Egyptian Films list. The film is directed by Henry Barakat, screenplay by Saad Al-Din Wahba, and starring Faten Hamama, Abdallah Gheith, and Zaki Rostom. The story explores the lives of mobile workers through Aziza and Abdullah’s characters and how she has to fend for her family after her husband’s illness prevents him from working.

7- Cairo 30 (1966)

Directed and scripted by Salah Abu Seif, Cairo 30 is based on Naguib Mahfouz’s novel—the movie stars Souad Hosni and Ahmed Mazhar. The film takes place in the 1930s, following the story of a villager who moves to Cairo in search of a better life and is confronted by the contradictions and chaos of the city.

8- Palace of Desire (1967)

Adapted from the Kasr El-Shawk novel, the second part of Naguib Mahfouz’s trilogy, and directed by Hassan Al Imam. The screenplay is written by Mohamed Mostafa Sami and stars Nadia Lutfi, Yehia Chahine, Abdel Moneim Ibrahim, and Magda El Khatib. It continues the story of Abdel Jawad’s Family after the death of their middle son.

9- The Quail and Autumn (1967)

This film is another adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz, directed by Hossam El-Din Mostafa. The screenplay is written by Ahmed Abbas Saleh, and the cast stars are Nadia Lotfi and Mahmoud Morsi. The film explores the deep transformations witnessed by Egyptian society in the aftermath of the 1952 revolution.

10- The Second Wife (1967)

The film is directed by Salah Abu Seif, written by Ahmed Roshdy Saleh, and formulated by Mohamed Mostafa Sami. The cast includes Souad Hosni, Shoukry Sarhan, Saleh Mansour, and Sanaa Gamil. The film centres around the tyranny of the mayor over the farmers in a small Egyptian village.

11- A Taste of Fear (1969)

A Taste of Fear is an all-time favourite and a truly iconic film in every sense. The film is on The Top 100 Egyptian Films list, based on a novel by Tharwat Abaza and directed by Hosny Kamal. The dialogue, which was formulated by Sabry Ezzat and influenced by Abdelrahman El-Abnoudy’s songwriting, sparked lots of political controversy. The film starred a large group of celebrities, including Shadia, Mahmoud Morsy, and Yahya Shaheen.

12- The Mirage (1970)

The movie is adapted from Naguib Mahfouz’s novel of the same name. It is directed by Anwar El-Shenawy, formulated by Ali El-Zorkani, and starring Magda and Nour El-Sherif. The film explores the Oedipus complex through the character of Kamal, who faces issues in his marriage due to being impotent. Later, he learns that the issue is rooted in his introverted upbringing and his strong attachment to his mother.

13- The Beggar (1973)

Based on another novel by Naguib Mahfouz, the film is directed by Hossam El-Din Mostafa, formulated by Ahmed Abbas Saleh, and starring Mahmoud Morsy and Mariam Fakhr El-Din. The storyline centres around a man who lived a quiet life with his family until he was faced with a terminal illness, which ruins his mental state and pushes him to rebel against his so far quiet life.

14- The Guilty (1975)

It sparked much controversy when it was released, owing to its bold tone and events, and it was listed as an R-rated film. This film is directed by Said Marzouk and written by Naguib Mahfouz, starring Soheir Ramzy and Hussein Fahmy. The story follows the murder case of a famous actress and the interesting characters of the suspects.