Bab el Hadid (1958)
Genre: Crime / Drama
Duration: 77 minuten
Alternative titles: Cairo Station / The Iron Gate / باب الحديد
Country:
Egypt
Directed by: Youssef Chahine
Stars: Farid Shawqi, Hind Rostom and Youssef Chahine
IMDb score:
7,5 (6.132)
Releasedate: 31 July 1958
Bab el Hadid plot
Cairo Station is a psychological drama about workers working at a train depot in Cairo. In particular, it centers on the life of a mentally unstable homeless man who falls in love with an attractive soft drink saleswoman.
Actors and actresses
Abu Siri
Hanuma
Qinawi
Madbouli
Abu Gaber
Jadallah
Mansour
Halawethom
Reviews & comments
Spetie
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- 38871 messages
- 8251 votes
I also see Hitchcock in this. Bab el Hadid is a thriller with a darkly tinted noir edge, which also seems quite progressive politically.
The director himself takes the lead role and does not play without merit. Qinawi is a poor man, who doesn't seem too mentally strong and gets completely confused after being rejected by the woman he is in love with. Despite the fact that he wants to kill her, I continued to have a certain sympathy for him throughout the film. You could say I wished him luck. Cairo station is also the place where it all happens. It is very busy and people come and go and it is the place where the difference between the old and new generation takes shape and shows the difference between rich and poor.
The younger Egyptians are fashion conscious and modern, while the older people are clearly more traditional in thinking, but also in dress. That is also the difference between Qinawi and the woman he is in love with. He is clearly a bit older and traditional in thinking, while she looks youthful, smooth and modern. I thought it was all beautifully designed and because something is constantly happening at the station, it is in fact fascinating every second. The last twenty minutes are even somewhat exciting and the ending can even be called extremely strong.
In any case, Bab el Hadid gives a nice insight into another culture and is directed in a fine way. So far this is even the best African movie I've seen.
4.0*
Translated from Dutch · View original
mjk87 (moderator films)
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- 14602 messages
- 4554 votes
Film that should please me, but is mostly outdated and therefore didn't really pull me along. Exaggerated acting that I am not a fan of in any case and sometimes even bothers me. The film is clearly in realism, but still feels too cinematic. For example, Italian films from neorealism had that very differently and much better. Such a day at a station where a number of people are followed is fun. Somehow it is a pity that it turns a bit into a thriller, although that piece is not even very bad. Visually also not very special shots, while so much beauty can be made with black and white. A funny picture of Cairo around that time and also short of playing time so I didn't really get bored, but it certainly shouldn't have lasted longer. Because I am extremely mild well rounded up. 3.0*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Dievegge
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- 3181 messages
- 8230 votes
A thriller with a brooding atmosphere, about a pathetic, obsessed loser and a beautiful one who makes his head spin. The contrast between rich and poor in a growing metropolis is effectively depicted. A nice moment is when Qinawi is standing on the left with his worn cap, and on the right is a statue of a pharaoh with his crown. Thus, ancient and new Egypt are captured in one image.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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