El-Akhar

I could not figure out what Yousif Shamine meant by the name of the movie "The Other"? I understood what the movie was about and I can relate it to life in general in the 2000s. I makes you wonder sometimes if people are really that far out of their actions, as if they do not see the effect of their actions on others. It is a tragic ending, but very real. A very good romance between a prince and a unsubdued girl, so it is for a general public. "Le Destin" (1997) was better since it was more historical and the songs were really part of the film. But "L'autre" includes also a fair good critics of terrorism (in Algeria and in Egypt). So, if you've never seen a Chahine's film, see this one, before "Le Destin" and long for the next one.

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 ❤

To the pretentious reviewer who uses 'melodrama' as an insult: What do you know about Egyptian film? Or Arab culture for that matter? If you knew something, you would have realized that any film that begins with a cameo from Edward Said must be somewhat worthwhile (Or at least play with some interesting ideas). Yes, this movie is firmly situated within the romantic-melodramatic genre common in Egyptian cinema. Cinema is at its root a popular entertainment, and many of the greatest masterpieces of American cinema (which most world cinemas have been trying, with varying degrees of success, to emulate since the 30's) were produced in a similar context. What is 'Casablanca' if not a melodrama? Egyptian cinema likewise operates within the framework of melodrama, and utilizes these conventions to tell stories which have a deeper meaning. Watch 'Du'at al-Karawan,' 'la anam,' 'sigara wa ka's', etc... and tell me that's not art. Youssef Chahine has experimented with auteur-style film-making (Iskandriyah leih?) but he also -like Barakat and the best of the Egyptian directors before him, knows how to exploit the narrative tropes of the melodrama genre to create art. So leave your film-festival snobbery at the door and enjoy. 'Al-Akhar' is not Chahine's best film (in my opinion, that's Bab al-Hadid) but it is a well-told story which also takes a frank look at Egyptian society and the complex relationship between the West and the Arab world.

Don't be fooled by appearances: the fact that this is an exotic entry from Egypt doesn't shield the fact that it's just a boy-meets-girl love story given heavier trappings. Adam is the son of a wealthy Egyptian-American family who is studying at UCLA and returns home for a brief vacation. Upon his arrival he meets beautiful reporter Hanane, with whom he begins an intense love affair, and eventually they marry. Trouble arises when Hanane' s journalistic interests lead her to the corrupt business affairs of Adam's parents, who are interested in building an American tourist compound that would allow Americans further control of Egypt's tourist industry, and make them a whole lot richer. The climactic ending of the film is the tragic result of the adults' selfish greed which manifests itself on their children. Not really inspiring in any way, the film does feature some colourful musical numbers and wry moments. Nabila Ebeid is excellent as Adam's hard-driven mother.