The Other

Twenty minutes after screening L'AUTRE at a film festival lately, I lost all hope it could be viewed as a serious film and began to see it for what it is- a tacky melodrama. More cliches are impossible to fit in (cyberspace, terrorism, Oedipus complexes, the works). If this is what Egyptian filmmaking is like, Mexican telenovelas are a a refined art form with nuanced acting. Worth seeing if only for the SHOCKING appalling experience of what passes off as brilliant filmmaking in North Africa. A total disgrace to the art form, and a total disgrace to Egypt, which has contributed too much to world culture to let this travesty represent the the state of its cinematic arts.

This movie is one of the best romantic dramas and examples of political realism in the Middle East region. It discusses what is the meaning of terrorism and who is a terrorist, and who is the real terrorist. The movie shows how power can destroy the most beautiful things in the world. The movie is extremely intelligent and it has many interesting ideas. Every time one watches the movie, it is as if you are seeing it for the first time because you see additional layers of meaning in the movie.

The movie is a love story between Adam, the son of an American woman and an Egyptian man (who are married only for business reasons without love) and Hanan, a female journalist from a poor family. Adam studied human rights and terrorism. Hanan's brother is a member of a terrorist group. The movie explores how their life develops and grows after their marriage. The American woman becomes jealous on her son and doesn't want someone to take her son and wants to destroy their love story. It's a very touching love story and expresses much about the situation faced by poor Egyptians and gives the viewer lots of questions as to how people become terrorist and what leads a young guy to pursue this path.

Youssef Chahine in his movie: "El Akhar" predicted what would be the consequences of terrorism movements. What a Legend 💕

Truthfully, every time I watch a film directed by the creator, Youssef Chahine, I am sure a director for all generations . Maestro will not be repeated in Arabic cinema.

Only a distinguished maestro can guide great stars such as Nabila Obaid, Hemida, Azat Abu Auf, Lebleba , Ahmed Fouad Selim, Hanan Turk and Hani Salama to get the best performance for them.

The music is great with Magda El Roumi's voice 💕

I am a big movie buff and have been watching great directors such as Bergman, Felini, Kuberik and see foreign movies on regular basis.

Yousef Chahine is one of the most talented directors today. His movie "The other" exhibits many of the shortcomings of Muslim cultures. The Meeting scene in the airport was brilliant and heartwarming. I loved Chahine's brilliant choice of playing Arabic music at the wedding. The attitude of the rich towards poor is very accurate and the character of Diana was so exemplary of most Westerners attitude and behavior in other countries. I have watched this movie many times and each time I love it more. Chahine tells it like it is and needs no apology or explanation because those who are true movie fans and understand other cultures and their issues appreciate his exposure regarding the Muslim men hitting their wives no matter how educated they are (and even raping them as seen in the movie). Most westerners do not realize that in many Muslim nations women are married young and their children become their obsession so the relationship portrayed was correct. The corruption shown is very true and most Americans are not aware of what American businessmen do in other countries and at what price. This movie gives a good portrayal of complexity of relationships in countries predominately Muslim (even though the main characters are Christian in this movie). I loved the one liner about Americans having trained the son who is a terrorist back from Afghanistan. The scenes showing women among the terrorists are another means to educate most people about the problem not being limited to having men terrorists. Take it from someone who knows movies and downs a large selection for Movies from around the world. Chahine is the Ingamr Bergman of our time, only better.

Every time one watches the movie, it is as if you are seeing it for the first time because It's a very touching love story between Adam"the son of an American woman "and Hanan, a female journalist from a poor family.The story was great, the acting was great , the music was amazing and youssef chahine was great .Deserves more than 10. Love it. Adam and hanan ❤