Youssef Chahine
Film director · 3 films (1958–1979)
Youssef Chahine is a director whose work here spans Cairo Station (1958) to Alexandria…Why? (1979), across drama and crime. The work runs close — 30% of frames across the 3 films indexed here, against 21% library-wide. All 178 frames from 3 films are indexed here, searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, colour and mood.
Youssef Chahine started studying in a friars' school and then turned to Victoria College until High School Certificate. After one year at the University of Alexandria, he moved to the U.S.
Born 25 January 1926 · Alexandria, Egypt · died 27 July 2008
Directing style
Chahine anchors his dramatic crime and war narratives in tight, intimate framing, relying heavily on medium shots and closeups captured almost exclusively at eye level to build a tense, lonely atmosphere. He favors a shallow depth of field that isolates subjects within realistic day or night environments, utilizing practical light sources, direct sunlight, and window light to illuminate both interiors and exteriors. His visual signature balances high-contrast black-and-white cinematography with a muted color palette of desaturated earth tones, deep blacks, stony grays, and occasional highlights of dusty olive and muted purple.
Awards
- Silver Bear · 1979
- François Chalais Prize · 1999
- honorary doctor of Paris 8 University · 1997
Films directed by Youssef Chahine
About Youssef Chahine
When was Youssef Chahine born?
Youssef Chahine was born on 25 January 1926 in Alexandria, Egypt and died on 27 July 2008.
What films has Youssef Chahine directed?
FrameThrower holds stills from 3 of them: Cairo Station (1958), The Return of the Prodigal Son (1978) and Alexandria…Why? (1979).
What awards has Youssef Chahine won?
Silver Bear (1979), François Chalais Prize (1999) and honorary doctor of Paris 8 University (1997).
Search every frame of Youssef Chahine’s films
All 178 indexed frames from 3 films directed by Youssef Chahine — searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, mood or plain language.