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THE YACOUBIAN BUILDING
Directed by Marwan Hamed
Produced by Imad Adeeb
Written by Waheed Hamed, based on the novel by Alaa Al Aswany
Director of Photography Sameh Selim
Edited by Khaled Marei
Music by Khaled Hammad
Released by Strand Releasing
Language: Arabic with English subtitles
Egypt. 161 min. Not Rated
Special Features: Trailers.
With Adel Imam, Yousra, Issad Younis, Nour El Sherif, Hind Sabry, Khaled El Sawy, Mohamed Imam & Somaya El Khashab.

For several reasons it feels appropriate listening to Edith Piaf while writing this review. Not only does “La Foule” practically become aristocrat Zaki El Dessouki’s theme song, but Piaf’s music recalls his Parisian past and Egypt’s once culturally strong ties to the West. Past versus present is a major theme throughout this Egyptian blockbuster. (The film cost over $3.6 million to make, unheard of in Egyptian cinema, and was a huge domestic hit). The sleek nostalgia commonly associated with Piaf’s music adds a nice contradiction to the cracking and chipped Yacoubian Building.

Based on the novel by Alaa Al Aswany, The Yacoubian Building weaves together various story lines of tenants residing in this well-known apartment complex in Cairo. At one time synonymous with wealth and elegance, the dilapidating edifice now houses an array of social dilemmas. Those who are rich enough reside in the lower floors and concern themselves with corruption, lust, and questionable marriage ideals, and those who are not live in tin shacks on the roof.

Downstairs there is Zaki (also called Zaki Pasha, and played by the wonderful Adel Imam) whose aristocratic bearing clashes with his weakness for booze and prostitutes. Haj (Nour El Sherif), long ago shining shoes, has made it big with the help of illegal deals and political corruption. Journalist Hatem (Khaled El Sawy), a closeted homosexual (although everyone in the building seems to know his secret), stereotypically lures young, good-looking men into his apartment with his wealth and wine; he meets a predictable end. Young lovers on the rooftop, Bothayna (Hind Sabry) and Taha (Mohamed Imam), break up: Taha, after his dreams of becoming a police officer are denied by his low social class, joins an extremist Islamic group; and needing work, Bothayna sacrifices her dignity and takes a job in a dress shop for a touchy-feely boss. There is also an array of subplots, one involving Zaki’s avaricious sister and a scheme using the beautiful Bothayna as bait to gain control of Zaki’s apartment.

Director Marwan Hamed presents a straightforward and mostly compelling portrait of Cairo, raising a range of controversial issues, shattering any belief of the region’s media having a predictable, unified voice. While some scenes verge dangerously close to soap opera cliché, and should have been edited or deleted altogether to avoid the lengthy 161-minute running time, others, particularly the ones linking Zaki and Bothayna, offer many beautiful and touching moments. B. Bastron
January 29, 2008