Hayy Cinema | Youssef Chahine Retrospective: Adieu Bonaparte (1985)

Program overview

Adieu Bonaparte / Al Wedaa Ya Bonaparte Director: Youssef Chahine Release Date: 1984 Running Time: 114 minutes Language: Arabic Subtitles: English, French Screening Schedule: 8 December 2022, 8pm |14 December, 8pm |18 December, 8pm | 29 December, 8pm Chahine’s first dive into the historical genre was through Jamila The Algerian / Jamila Abou Hereed (1958). Adieu Bonaparte is one of his other feats of strength in the historical genre. In 1798, Napoleon lands his army in Egypt, defeats the Mameluke warlords (the remnants of Ottoman rule), and reaches Cairo. Three brothers, Egyptian patriots, chafe under Mameluke rule and reject the prospect of French domination. Bakr, the eldest, is a hothead, quick to advocate armed rebellion; Ali is more philosophical and poetic while Yehia is young and impressionable.