Drama, War  •  1979  •  133 min

Alexandria… Why? (1979)

Alexandria… Why? poster

Alexandria… Why? (1979)


Rating & Dimensions

Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Family Values: Mixed
Christianity: Positive
Islam: Positive
Judaism: Positive

Viewer Rating
6.9

Overview

Youssef Chahine's semi-autobiographical film follows a young Egyptian dreamer in wartime Alexandria who idolizes Hollywood while his city suffers under occupation and poverty. The Leans Progressive label follows naturally from the film's priorities. It frames British colonial presence through Egyptian eyes, centering self-determination as a cultural value. A subplot involving a tender relationship between a British soldier and an Egyptian man is handled with unusual dignity for 1979, Egyptian or otherwise. Religion across the film's communities is treated respectfully, and family life appears without strong editorial comment. The film's progressive lean comes from its anti-colonial perspective and its quietly empathetic treatment of queer experience, not from any single agenda.


Starring Cast

Naglaa Fathi  •   Ahmed Zaki  •   Farid Shawqi

Detailed Bias Analysis

Analyzing...
Leans Progressive

Primary

Political: Leans Left
Confidence: High

The film implicitly critiques foreign occupation and champions national and cultural identity from a colonized perspective, aligning with anti-colonial and self-determination themes, which are dominant progressive values.

Diversity: Moderate
Confidence: High

The movie naturally features a diverse cast reflecting its Egyptian setting and characters, which is inherent to its cultural context rather than a deliberate recasting of traditionally white roles. The narrative subtly critiques colonial power structures through its portrayal of British occupation from an Egyptian perspective, but it does not explicitly frame traditional identities negatively as a central theme.

Secondary

LGBTQ: Positive
Confidence: High

Alexandria… Why? includes a subplot featuring a British soldier and an Egyptian man in a tender, complex relationship. The film portrays their connection with dignity and empathy, avoiding mockery or negative stereotypes. Challenges faced by the characters are framed as external societal and wartime pressures, rather than inherent to their queer identity, resulting in a net positive depiction for its time.

Family Values: Mixed
Confidence: Medium

The film portrays family life within its historical context, depicting a nuclear family and parental expectations without explicitly endorsing or critiquing traditional family structures or roles. The narrative focuses more on individual ambition and societal changes than on making a statement about family values.

Christianity: Positive
Confidence: High

The film portrays the Christian community as an integral part of Alexandria's diverse social fabric, emphasizing their peaceful coexistence with other faiths. Characters from Christian backgrounds are depicted with nuance and humanity, contributing to the film's message of interfaith harmony.

Islam: Positive
Confidence: High

Muslim characters are depicted as ordinary citizens within the multicultural setting of Alexandria, contributing to the city's vibrant identity. The film's overarching theme of tolerance and shared humanity extends to its portrayal of the Muslim community, showing them as part of the diverse social tapestry.

Judaism: Positive
Confidence: High

Jewish characters are shown as an essential component of Alexandrian society during WWII, interacting harmoniously with their Muslim and Christian neighbors. The narrative highlights their shared humanity and the cosmopolitan nature of the city, promoting a sympathetic view of the community.

Trans: N/A
Confidence: High

The film 'Alexandria… Why?' does not include any identifiable transsexual characters or explore themes related to gender identity transition. The narrative focuses on the director's semi-autobiographical youth, his passion for cinema, and the political climate of Alexandria during WWII, without touching upon transsexual experiences or portrayals.

Female Combat: N/R

The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.

Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High

The film is an original, largely autobiographical work by Youssef Chahine. Its characters' genders are established within the film's narrative or reflect the real-life individuals they represent without alteration from a prior canon or widely established history.

Race Swap: No
Confidence: High

The film is an autobiographical drama set in Alexandria during WWII. Characters are based on real people or Chahine's experiences, primarily depicting Egyptians and various Europeans. There is no evidence of a character canonically or historically established as one race being portrayed as a different race.

Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High

Not depicted in the film.


Viewer Rating Breakdown

6.9

Viewer Rating

Combines user and critic ratings from four sources

User Ratings

IMDB logo
7.3
The Movie Database logo
6.5

Critic Ratings

Rotten Tomatoes logo
N/A
Metacritic logo
N/A

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