Film Director. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, to Lebanese Christian parents, he studied acting in California in the 1940s and then went on to become one of Egypt's most distinguished film directors. Although his films were critical of United States foreign policy in the Middle East, he also tackled social ills, Muslim fundamentalism and Egypt's authoritarian regime. His 44 films and documentaries attempted to defend and bring back the spirit of multicultural tolerance that he had experienced in his youth and which he perceived was being undermined by fundamentalism, dictatorship and imperialism. Credited with discovering Omar Sharif, he is best remembered for his film "the Land" (1969) about the struggle of peasant farmers and landowners over land in the Nile River delta. His final film, "This is Chaos" (2007), criticized the Egyptian government's crackdown on democracy by focusing on a corrupt police officer taking bribes and torturing citizens. Awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. Died in Cairo, Egypt of complications from a brain hemorrhage.
Film Director. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, to Lebanese Christian parents, he studied acting in California in the 1940s and then went on to become one of Egypt's most distinguished film directors. Although his films were critical of United States foreign policy in the Middle East, he also tackled social ills, Muslim fundamentalism and Egypt's authoritarian regime. His 44 films and documentaries attempted to defend and bring back the spirit of multicultural tolerance that he had experienced in his youth and which he perceived was being undermined by fundamentalism, dictatorship and imperialism. Credited with discovering Omar Sharif, he is best remembered for his film "the Land" (1969) about the struggle of peasant farmers and landowners over land in the Nile River delta. His final film, "This is Chaos" (2007), criticized the Egyptian government's crackdown on democracy by focusing on a corrupt police officer taking bribes and torturing citizens. Awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. Died in Cairo, Egypt of complications from a brain hemorrhage.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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