“Because we are men, and we took the stance of men,” goes the famous phrase from internationally acclaimed Egyptian film director Youssef Chahine’s film El Ard (The Land). As late Egyptian actor Mahmoud el Meligy delivers his powerful speech in a film about a simple Egyptian rural town being taken over by those in power, one can’t help but be put in awe by each and every aspect of the scene – from the moving performance, to the blocking and depth of each frame. El Ard (1969) is but one of 10 of the late director’s films that have been revived and made available on Netflix. In addition to this, films such as El Muhager (The Emigrant – 1994), Salah El Din (Saladin -1963), El Maseer (Destiny – 1997), Seraa Fil Wadi (The Blazing Sun – 1954), Seraa Fil Minaa (Dark Waters – 1956), Aawdeit el Ibn el Dal (Return of the Prodigal Son – 1976), and three out of his four part autobiographical film series – Iskindereya.. Leih? (Alexandria… Why? – 1978), Hadoota Masreya (An Egyptian Tale – 1982) and Iskindereya Kaman w Kaman (Alexandria Again and Forever…
