Youssef Chahine was one of Arab cinema's most respected figures
Youssef Chahine was one of Arab cinema's most respected figures
As tributes are paid to Youssef Chahine, whose funeral was held on Monday, the BBC's Bob Trevelyan recalls his own brief meeting with the great Egyptian film director.
As tributes are paid to Youssef Chahine, whose funeral was held on Monday, the BBC's Bob Trevelyan recalls his own brief meeting with the great Egyptian film director.
In the weeks leading up to the 1991 Gulf war, Alexandria was sometimes a tense place to be.
In the weeks leading up to the 1991 Gulf war, Alexandria was sometimes a tense place to be.
There was an attack on British business interests in the city and at the university, where I was studying Arabic, students staged angry demonstrations, denouncing the coming attacks on Iraq.
There was an attack on British business interests in the city and at the university, where I was studying Arabic, students staged angry demonstrations, denouncing the coming attacks on Iraq.
A few miles further down the coast, Youssef Chahine was at work on his latest film, Alexandria Again and Forever, the third part of a semi-autobiographical quartet inspired by the city of his birth.
A few miles further down the coast, Youssef Chahine was at work on his latest film, Alexandria Again and Forever, the third part of a semi-autobiographical quartet inspired by the city of his birth.
An Egyptian friend of mine who knew some of the crew offered me the chance to be an extra and, out of curiosity, I accepted.
An Egyptian friend of mine who knew some of the crew offered me the chance to be an extra and, out of curiosity, I accepted.
Working on a shoestring
Working on a shoestring
I had heard of Chahine, but did not know his work and had no idea what to expect.
I had heard of Chahine, but did not know his work and had no idea what to expect.
CHAHINE FACTS Born 25 January 1926, died 27 July 2008Father was Christian Lebanese, his mother GreekFirst film made in 1950He made more than 40 films Won lifetime achievement award at Cannes in 1997
CHAHINE FACTS Born 25 January 1926, died 27 July 2008Father was Christian Lebanese, his mother GreekFirst film made in 1950He made more than 40 films Won lifetime achievement award at Cannes in 1997
Although the pre-eminent Arab film-maker of his generation, Chahine still operated on what seemed like a shoestring budget.
Although the pre-eminent Arab film-maker of his generation, Chahine still operated on what seemed like a shoestring budget.
The filming was taking place at a restaurant, but the cast and crew ate at a trestle table set up on the beach.
The filming was taking place at a restaurant, but the cast and crew ate at a trestle table set up on the beach.
The food was basic - large chunks of bread and cheap fish, washed down with cola.
The food was basic - large chunks of bread and cheap fish, washed down with cola.
My own fleeting appearance in the film was to play a drunk at a bar, swilling what was supposed to be whisky but what was, in another economy, actually flat cola diluted with water.
My own fleeting appearance in the film was to play a drunk at a bar, swilling what was supposed to be whisky but what was, in another economy, actually flat cola diluted with water.
Biography and fantasy
Biography and fantasy
Chahine himself was friendly and welcoming, not too busy or too grand to talk to the most peripheral members of his cast, while also having to manage the egos of some of Egypt's biggest box-office stars.
Chahine himself was friendly and welcoming, not too busy or too grand to talk to the most peripheral members of his cast, while also having to manage the egos of some of Egypt's biggest box-office stars.
He seemed efficient and in control, but also down-to-earth and approachable.
He seemed efficient and in control, but also down-to-earth and approachable.
It was difficult to believe that he was really the biggest star there.
It was difficult to believe that he was really the biggest star there.
The film mixed autobiography with some of Chahine's favourite themes, such as injustice and the breaking of sexual taboos.
The film mixed autobiography with some of Chahine's favourite themes, such as injustice and the breaking of sexual taboos.
In a change from earlier works of social realism, there were also fantasy and musical interludes that led some to draw comparisons with the great Italian film director, Federico Fellini.
In a change from earlier works of social realism, there were also fantasy and musical interludes that led some to draw comparisons with the great Italian film director, Federico Fellini.
I still have not seen the completed film myself, but I have the memory of a day on set with Egypt's greatest film-maker when worries about war were temporarily pushed to one side.
I still have not seen the completed film myself, but I have the memory of a day on set with Egypt's greatest film-maker when worries about war were temporarily pushed to one side.
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