Father Amin (1950)

 Youssef Chahine's "Father Amin"


There is perhaps one name that stands out when discussing Egyptian cinema: Youssef Chahine. His career spanned almost 60 years and his contribution to Egyptian cinema is unparalleled. His career began at the age of 23, when he directed his first feature film, 1950's "Father Amin." 

"Father Amin" centers on the father of a family who decides to use the last bit of savings to place on a shady investment. Afterwards, he wakes up a ghost after dying of a heart attack. His ghost must watch as his entire family descends into poverty. His wife must sell all of their furniture to keep the house and his daughter must become an erotic dancer. 

Chahine's first feature length film presents as very Dickensian, or feels very much akin to Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." While watching the disintegration of the honor, economics, and well-being of his family, the father learns how he should have been providing for them better. Even more so, he wakes up with a refreshed sense of perspective and now appreciates what he has far more. In the beginning, he felt so overwhelmed by the demands of his family and felt exasperated by them. Afterwards, he is renewed with a sense of gratitude. 

I very much enjoyed "Father Amin." It is one of those stories in which you can already tell the layout of the film upon its opening act. However, that does not make the remainder of the plot boring at all. In fact, I was completely struck by how emotionally invested I was in this family and their well-being. Chahine completely envelopes the audience in the existential fears and anxieties of a father in turmoil and I never once felt the need to disengage. I am very excited to see where Chahine takes his career from here.



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