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Hollow celebration of Egypt's maestro | Hollow celebration of Egypt's maestro |
(3 days later) | |
By Lina Wardani BBC News, Cairo | By Lina Wardani BBC News, Cairo |
When Egypt's leading film director, Youssef Chahine, died last month, his work was celebrated in government-owned newspapers and media as it never was during his lifetime. | When Egypt's leading film director, Youssef Chahine, died last month, his work was celebrated in government-owned newspapers and media as it never was during his lifetime. |
The director was thought of as a government opponent during his careerEgyptian TV has shown endless extracts from his films and special programmes about his life and work. | The director was thought of as a government opponent during his careerEgyptian TV has shown endless extracts from his films and special programmes about his life and work. |
Film director Hala Galal says it is not an unusual phenomenon for the Egyptian government. | Film director Hala Galal says it is not an unusual phenomenon for the Egyptian government. |
"It happened with Naguib Mahfouz too, Egyptian Nobel prize winner. He was celebrated after his death much more than during his lifetime," she says. | "It happened with Naguib Mahfouz too, Egyptian Nobel prize winner. He was celebrated after his death much more than during his lifetime," she says. |
Chahine was thought of as an opponent of the Egyptian regime since its defeat in the 1967 war and the student demonstrations which began in Cairo in February 1968. | Chahine was thought of as an opponent of the Egyptian regime since its defeat in the 1967 war and the student demonstrations which began in Cairo in February 1968. |
He won many international awards, the most famous is the 50th annual lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. | He won many international awards, the most famous is the 50th annual lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. |
But his first Egyptian award only came in 2007 when he was 81. | But his first Egyptian award only came in 2007 when he was 81. |
"They made sure he would accept it though because if he refused, it will look very embarrassing to the regime," says film critic Tarik Shinawi. | "They made sure he would accept it though because if he refused, it will look very embarrassing to the regime," says film critic Tarik Shinawi. |
"In the last two years he was sick and old, also surrounded by people who didn't want any trouble with the government - that's why he accepted the award." | "In the last two years he was sick and old, also surrounded by people who didn't want any trouble with the government - that's why he accepted the award." |
Unintentional opposition | Unintentional opposition |
Nevertheless, formal condolences for Chahine's death came from the Elysee Palace in France before it came from Egypt's own president. | Nevertheless, formal condolences for Chahine's death came from the Elysee Palace in France before it came from Egypt's own president. |
Tarik Shinawi believes the Egyptian state was forced to commemorate his death because the world was doing so. | Tarik Shinawi believes the Egyptian state was forced to commemorate his death because the world was doing so. |
Chahine was awarded France's highest official and artist honoursBut Egyptian writer and artist Adel al-Siwi points out that Chahine shouldn't be thought of only in terms of his opposition to the government. | Chahine was awarded France's highest official and artist honoursBut Egyptian writer and artist Adel al-Siwi points out that Chahine shouldn't be thought of only in terms of his opposition to the government. |
"It wasn't his intention always to be against the regime. During the Nasserist period he produced films that supported the regime like Fajr Youm Gedid (The Dawn of a New Day)," Siwi says. | "It wasn't his intention always to be against the regime. During the Nasserist period he produced films that supported the regime like Fajr Youm Gedid (The Dawn of a New Day)," Siwi says. |
"He wasn't an opponent, he just interacted with society and history." | "He wasn't an opponent, he just interacted with society and history." |
Egyptian filmmaker Daoud Abdul Sayed is not surprised by the government celebration of Chahine, the "opposition" director. | Egyptian filmmaker Daoud Abdul Sayed is not surprised by the government celebration of Chahine, the "opposition" director. |
"The celebration will not add to Chahine's name, it will only add to the state's name, it will make it more trusted," says Daoud Abdul Sayed. | "The celebration will not add to Chahine's name, it will only add to the state's name, it will make it more trusted," says Daoud Abdul Sayed. |
High acclaim | High acclaim |
Whether he was seen as an inveterate opponent of the establishment, he was known to speak his mind no matter what the consequences. | |
His films were always shocking and ahead of the rest of the industry, for example Al-Asfur (The Bird) which attributed the Arab defeat in the 1967 war to corruption among the political classes at the time. | His films were always shocking and ahead of the rest of the industry, for example Al-Asfur (The Bird) which attributed the Arab defeat in the 1967 war to corruption among the political classes at the time. |
He also made three highly acclaimed films in the late 1990s - Al-Muhajer (The Emigrant), Al-Masir (Destiny) and Al-Akhar (The Other), which focused on tolerance and the distinction between Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. | He also made three highly acclaimed films in the late 1990s - Al-Muhajer (The Emigrant), Al-Masir (Destiny) and Al-Akhar (The Other), which focused on tolerance and the distinction between Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism. |
Chahine was also interested in his own past, as seen in his first film Baba Amin, and his famous Alexandria trilogy. | Chahine was also interested in his own past, as seen in his first film Baba Amin, and his famous Alexandria trilogy. |
"He was always optimistic. His films are a celebration of life. He is always for love, the young, beauty and the future," says Hala Galal. | "He was always optimistic. His films are a celebration of life. He is always for love, the young, beauty and the future," says Hala Galal. |
"He never laments the past in his films, he praises the present and promises a better future. These are the films I want to see and hope to make," adds Hala Galal. | "He never laments the past in his films, he praises the present and promises a better future. These are the films I want to see and hope to make," adds Hala Galal. |
Chahine's private memorial was perhaps the most fitting tribute which he received. | Chahine's private memorial was perhaps the most fitting tribute which he received. |
He had asked for a gathering of friends at a film studio near the High Institute of Cinema, where he taught. | He had asked for a gathering of friends at a film studio near the High Institute of Cinema, where he taught. |
Huge numbers of artists met in a large studio where sets of his films were on display and Muhammad Mounir's song Raise your Voice, Songs are still Possible was played. | Huge numbers of artists met in a large studio where sets of his films were on display and Muhammad Mounir's song Raise your Voice, Songs are still Possible was played. |
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