IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > El Medina (1999)

El Medina (1999) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   91 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for El Medina on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 July 2000 (France) more
Genre:
Plot:
A young Egyptian with acting ambitions leaves his country for France with dreams of becoming a movie star, much to the disgust of his father, who wants him to move to Saudi Arabia and get rich. | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
6 wins & 1 nomination more
User Reviews:
Exceptional Viewing more (1 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Bassem Samra ... Ali
Ahmed Fouad Selim ... The father
Abla Kamel ... Bannoura, the mother
Roschdy Zem ... Roschdy
Inês de Medeiros ... Agnès
Amr Saad ... Oussama
Basma Ahmad ... Nadia
Sarry El-Naggar ... Fox
Messaoud Hattau ... Firas
Seif El Dine ... Mounir (as Seif Abdel-Rahmane)
Atteya Ouess ... Uncle Chalabi
Zaki Abdel Wahab ... The film director
Youssra ... Herself: Cameo Appearance
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ahmed Azmi
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
La ville (France)
The City (Australia) (literal English title)
more
Runtime:
France:108 min | Switzerland:90 min (Locarno Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:M | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud)
Filming Locations:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
'Basem Samra' (Ali) learned French especially for this film in the French Cultural Centre in Cairo. more
Quotes:
[Ali is on the roof memorizing his role in a play while being surrounded by ducks and hens, he then picks up a white duck which he named De Niro]
Ali: Mother, don't slaughter de Niro.
Bannoura, the mother: Who?
Ali: De Niro!
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Humbert Balsan, producteur rebelle (2006) (TV) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful.
Exceptional Viewing, 1 October 2002
8/10
Author: Rainsford55 from Melbourne, Australia

Shown in Australia as "The City", this exceptional film is an excellently written story.

The main character "Ali" (Bassem Samra),is a young accountancy graduate with a passion for acting. He leaves Egypt for France in the hope he might find an acting career and a better life. But his dreams infuriate his father who wants him to move to Saudi Arabia and become rich. In France Ali meets Roschdy, who helps him find work, accommodation and gets him a fake ID. But his life becomes a constant battle in more ways than one as he struggles to hide his real identity.

Though this was apparently filmed on 35mm film, it does come across at different times as though it was filmed on someone's home video and so you do get the feeling you are watching an amateur production. However there is some excellent acting from Samra who captures the essence of the role and his supporting cast offer strong back-up.

Well worth the time to watch, I share the loneliness of "Ali" in his time in France as a foreigner in a unwelcoming country.

A well rounded story where our hero finds his true self in end. Excellent viewing.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (1 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for El Medina (1999)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
La règle du jeu OSS 117: Le Caire, nid d'espions Passion of Mind Indigènes
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb Egypt section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.