Almost every true Egyptian cinephile will have a long list of film references that somehow manage to make their way into day-to-day conversations. These references – or rather memorable phrases, which are often associated with older films – have become a staple part of Egyptian youth culture, with almost any young Egyptian recognizing phrases such as Tawfik Eldekn’s “ya ah, ya ah” from the 1958 film ‘Bahebak ya Hassan’ (I Love You Hassan) or even Abdel Fattah el Kosary’s “ya safayeh el zebda el sayha” (oh, containers of melted butter) from the 1942 film ‘Law Kont Ghani’ (If I Were Rich). Other than memorable film phrases however, Egyptian cinema has also had its fair share of memorable monologues. Powerfully performed and wonderfully written, some monologues from some older Egyptian films have managed to leave their mark for generations to come. Much like the various film references people often tie into their daily conversation, these monologues are just as memorable and some of the phrases within them can be recognized in a matter of seconds. Below are a few examples of powerful and memorable monologues from Egyptian film history; Mahmoud el…
