An Egyptian Story

Boldly blending personal and political histories, intercutting its fast-moving fictional scenes with documentary footage, this sort of sequel to Alexandria - Why? follows the fortunes of Chahine's charismatic film-maker hero and alter ego, forced to review his past and learn to love himself by a critical open-heart operation. The occasionally clumsy central conceit - Yehia/Chahine standing trial for his life during surgery - is amply offset by the energy and style of this indulgent, exuberant, and immensely likeable self-portrait.