El-Ard, is probably the best Egyptian movie of all time and is a must-watch for those who wish to know more about Egypt, Egyptian culture of farming communities in the pre-1952 era, art and cinema.
At age 60, Mahmoud El Meleegy (or Mahmoud Al Meleji, who played Mohamed Abu Swailam) rendered an inspired performance which placed him at the top of Egyptian actors of all time. This is probably Yousef Chahine's finest work as he managed to bring the best of each crew member and orchestrate a monumental masterpiece, building on a great novel by Abdel Rahman El Charkawi.
Although there is no single actor or actress that personified the "Land", who is the undisputed true heroine/protagonist of this movie, "she" is neither invisible nor silent. Her physical presence is felt if not seen or heard in every scene through the amazing cinematography of Abdel Halim Nasr, heart-raking music of Aly Ismail, authentic script and dialogues of Hasan Fouad, the towering performance of all actors and even the costumes and props. Aly Ismail's music and the lyrics seem to rise from the land itself and the collective conscience of the people who are fatefully connected to it. The Land speaks to and through her subjects, occupies their minds and drives their actions. Even those who thought that they had managed to escape its gravity, finding new orbits living easier and cleaner lives in Cairo (Capital City of Egypt), such as Sheikh Hassouna (played by the genius Yehia Chahine), they suddenly find themselves back as if they had never left, sucked in to and by the Land. To their own shock, they betray their life-long friends in fear of losing their piece (of the Land).
The Land tells tales of comradeship, honor, love, heroism and betrayal. We can talk and even sometimes act like selfless heroes until we come near a point which ultimately tests our deepest inner selves - where most - if not all of us - will just turn back and accept injustice to others and even to self - in order to survive. And this perhaps, is the saddest - yet truest - tale which this movie tells.
At age 60, Mahmoud El Meleegy (or Mahmoud Al Meleji, who played Mohamed Abu Swailam) rendered an inspired performance which placed him at the top of Egyptian actors of all time. This is probably Yousef Chahine's finest work as he managed to bring the best of each crew member and orchestrate a monumental masterpiece, building on a great novel by Abdel Rahman El Charkawi.
Although there is no single actor or actress that personified the "Land", who is the undisputed true heroine/protagonist of this movie, "she" is neither invisible nor silent. Her physical presence is felt if not seen or heard in every scene through the amazing cinematography of Abdel Halim Nasr, heart-raking music of Aly Ismail, authentic script and dialogues of Hasan Fouad, the towering performance of all actors and even the costumes and props. Aly Ismail's music and the lyrics seem to rise from the land itself and the collective conscience of the people who are fatefully connected to it. The Land speaks to and through her subjects, occupies their minds and drives their actions. Even those who thought that they had managed to escape its gravity, finding new orbits living easier and cleaner lives in Cairo (Capital City of Egypt), such as Sheikh Hassouna (played by the genius Yehia Chahine), they suddenly find themselves back as if they had never left, sucked in to and by the Land. To their own shock, they betray their life-long friends in fear of losing their piece (of the Land).
The Land tells tales of comradeship, honor, love, heroism and betrayal. We can talk and even sometimes act like selfless heroes until we come near a point which ultimately tests our deepest inner selves - where most - if not all of us - will just turn back and accept injustice to others and even to self - in order to survive. And this perhaps, is the saddest - yet truest - tale which this movie tells.