Salah Abu Seif

Directing

Salah Abu Seif

Born May 10, 1915 · Egypt

Died June 22, 1996 · aged 81

Salah Abu Seif (صلاح أبو سيف‎; 1915 – 1996) was one of the most famous Egyptian film directors. Many of the 41 films he directed, many of which were based on novels by Naguib Mahfouz, are considered Egyptian classics. Known as the Godfather of Egyptian neorealism, Abu Seif pioneered shooting on location - though he also used sets - in places none of his predecessors had dared to visit, like ghur…

Known For

Citizen MasreyCitizen Masrey · 1991
Citizen Masrey
6.51991
MovieDrama
The story of Mayor Abdul Razek al-Sharshabi (Omar al-Sharif) when his younger son, Tawfiq (Khalid al-Nabawi) is called for army recruitment, his wife (Safiya al-Omari), rejects it, suggesting to send someone else to go instead. So the Mayor persuaded a poor father named Abdul-Muqeem (Izzat al-Alayli) to send his only son Masrey instead.
First Year of LoveFirst Year of Love · 1976
First Year of Love
7.01976
MovieDrama
A young teacher, Mohamed, rejects a student who happens to be the daughter of Awny, the Minister of Interior. As Mohamed starts working as a journalist and joins the Wafd Party, he learns that Awny has documents that condemn its leader. Mohamed tries to get the incrimating evidence.
No Time for LoveNo Time for Love · 1963
No Time for Love
7.31963
MovieDramaRomance
Hamza "a member of the volunteer National Guard" meets up with the teacher Fawzya "Faten", after the fire of Cairo broke out, the British trying to capture all the volunteers in the National Guard , Hamza hiding in the house of one of his friend, and Fawzya help him, and she is trying to formation its own cell in order to hit the English forces in the Canal zone.
Dawn of IslamDawn of Islam · 1971
Dawn of Islam
6.01971
MovieDramaHistory
This is the story of young Hassem, the son of a powerful sheik, set at the beginning of Hegira. When the youngster's uncle is murdered, Hassem decides to go to Mecca with a view to finding the culprit and punishing him. But what he discovers there is not the murderer but the prophet Muhammad. Touched by grace, Hassem converts to the new religion and comes back to his village to propagate the new faith. Which is not to his father's liking, since the Muslim religion is opposed to feudal rights and privileges. The infuriated sheik curses his son and starts persecuting the new converts.
The Malatily BathhouseThe Malatily Bathhouse · 1973
The Malatily Bathhouse
5.51973
MovieDrama
The film is an adaptation of a novel by Ismåeel Walieddin. The main character, Ahmad, leaves rural eastern Egypt for the city hoping to become economically self-sufficient, gets an apartment for his parents, and obtains a law degree. He and his family are refugees from a town occupied by the Israeli army, Ismaåilia. Ali, the owner of the Malatily Bathhouse, offers to let him stay there for free. Ahmad encounters several characters there, including Naåeema, a prostitute who he becomes obsessed with, and Raouf, a homosexual man.
Agony of LoveAgony of Love · 1960
Agony of Love
7.01960
MovieRomance
Amal marries the train driver Mahmoud, who treats her harshly. She feels neglected despite her husband's presence, Mahmoud travels to another city and asks his assistant Hassan to look after his wife. During his absence, Amal expresses admiration for Hassan's morals, which soon turns into a special love.
Al-QadisiyyaAl-Qadisiyya · 1981
Al-Qadisiyya
10.01981
MovieHistoryWar
A historical epic about the battle of Qadiseya, which was helmed by the Arabian knight Saad Ibn Abi Waqas, and which enabled Muslims from conquering Persia in 636 A.D.
The HawkThe Hawk · 1950
The Hawk
10.01950
Movie

Movies

Citizen MasreyCitizen Masrey · 1991
Citizen Masrey
6.51991
MovieDrama
The story of Mayor Abdul Razek al-Sharshabi (Omar al-Sharif) when his younger son, Tawfiq (Khalid al-Nabawi) is called for army recruitment, his wife (Safiya al-Omari), rejects it, suggesting to send someone else to go instead. So the Mayor persuaded a poor father named Abdul-Muqeem (Izzat al-Alayli) to send his only son Masrey instead.
First Year of LoveFirst Year of Love · 1976
First Year of Love
7.01976
MovieDrama
A young teacher, Mohamed, rejects a student who happens to be the daughter of Awny, the Minister of Interior. As Mohamed starts working as a journalist and joins the Wafd Party, he learns that Awny has documents that condemn its leader. Mohamed tries to get the incrimating evidence.
No Time for LoveNo Time for Love · 1963
No Time for Love
7.31963
MovieDramaRomance
Hamza "a member of the volunteer National Guard" meets up with the teacher Fawzya "Faten", after the fire of Cairo broke out, the British trying to capture all the volunteers in the National Guard , Hamza hiding in the house of one of his friend, and Fawzya help him, and she is trying to formation its own cell in order to hit the English forces in the Canal zone.
Dawn of IslamDawn of Islam · 1971
Dawn of Islam
6.01971
MovieDramaHistory
This is the story of young Hassem, the son of a powerful sheik, set at the beginning of Hegira. When the youngster's uncle is murdered, Hassem decides to go to Mecca with a view to finding the culprit and punishing him. But what he discovers there is not the murderer but the prophet Muhammad. Touched by grace, Hassem converts to the new religion and comes back to his village to propagate the new faith. Which is not to his father's liking, since the Muslim religion is opposed to feudal rights and privileges. The infuriated sheik curses his son and starts persecuting the new converts.
The Malatily BathhouseThe Malatily Bathhouse · 1973
The Malatily Bathhouse
5.51973
MovieDrama
The film is an adaptation of a novel by Ismåeel Walieddin. The main character, Ahmad, leaves rural eastern Egypt for the city hoping to become economically self-sufficient, gets an apartment for his parents, and obtains a law degree. He and his family are refugees from a town occupied by the Israeli army, Ismaåilia. Ali, the owner of the Malatily Bathhouse, offers to let him stay there for free. Ahmad encounters several characters there, including Naåeema, a prostitute who he becomes obsessed with, and Raouf, a homosexual man.
Agony of LoveAgony of Love · 1960
Agony of Love
7.01960
MovieRomance
Amal marries the train driver Mahmoud, who treats her harshly. She feels neglected despite her husband's presence, Mahmoud travels to another city and asks his assistant Hassan to look after his wife. During his absence, Amal expresses admiration for Hassan's morals, which soon turns into a special love.
Al-QadisiyyaAl-Qadisiyya · 1981
Al-Qadisiyya
10.01981
MovieHistoryWar
A historical epic about the battle of Qadiseya, which was helmed by the Arabian knight Saad Ibn Abi Waqas, and which enabled Muslims from conquering Persia in 636 A.D.
The HawkThe Hawk · 1950
The Hawk
10.01950
Movie
The Empty PillowThe Empty Pillow · 1957
The Empty Pillow
7.01957
MovieDramaMusic
Salah, a young college student, falls in love for the first time with Samiha. He spends his nights thinking about her and looking to her face in the “empty pillow” next to him. When she marries someone else, he is devastated and her memory haunts him no matter where he goes.
Always in my heartAlways in my heart · 1946
Always in my heart
1946
Movie
When a young orphan who works as a teacher in an orphanage falls in love with the marine officer Adel, her uptight manager fires her. Forced to work in a disreputable hotel, she is assaulted then arrested on prostitution charges.
Three WomenThree Women · 1969
Three Women
1969
MovieRomanceDrama
Three different stories about three women. Three women, the first (Hana), who loves (Adel), but she meets (Sami) to also fall in love with him, the second widow (Tawahida), who loves (Yusef) the employee of the Muslim Council, but he is married, and the third (Shams), the singer who falls in love with Fathi But he lives at a loss because of her sitting with clients, what happens to the three women
The Beginning and the EndThe Beginning and the End · 1960
The Beginning and the End
8.21960
MovieDrama
Set in the suburbs of Cairo in the late 1930s, the story follows a middle-class Egyptian family grappling with the hardships of life after the death of their father, their sole breadwinner. The mother and her four children—three brothers and their sister, Nefisah—struggle to avoid slipping into poverty. They all go in different directions which aren't exactly good.
The Water-Carrier Is DeadThe Water-Carrier Is Dead · 1977
The Water-Carrier Is Dead
7.81977
MovieDrama
The story of the friendship that develops between two men with quite different world views. One, a water carrier whose wife has died twenty years before, spends his days thinking about her. The other, who works in the funeral business, spends his life in the pursuit of pleasure because he recognizes that death will bring an end to all enjoyment. They meet and become friends. Through this friendship the water carrier is encouraged to change his morbid way of thinking and to enjoy life.
SleeplessSleepless · 1957
Sleepless
6.31957
MovieDramaRomance
Spoiled rich girl Nadia gets jealous after finding out her father's plan to remarry. She tries to break them apart, spreading lies about her new mother-in-law and getting involved with a man twice her age.
The ThugThe Thug · 1957
The Thug
6.81957
MovieDrama
Haridy arrives at the vegetable market in search of a job opportunity, he works for Master Abu Zaid and after a while he separates and marries Hossnyia. Haridy forms an alliance against Abu Zaid, but he soon becomes more powerful and his condition turns to worse.
Rayya and SekinaRayya and Sekina · 1952
Rayya and Sekina
6.41952
MovieCrimeDrama
In Alexandria a terrifying phenomenon of the disappearance of women, spreads terror in the city. Police work to unravel its secrets. Officer Ahmed is preparing a plan to uncover who's behind it and it turns out to be the gang of Raya and Sakina, who were targeting women to steal their jewelry.
Cairo 30Cairo 30 · 1966
Cairo 30
7.61966
MovieDramaThriller
Mahgoub is a villager who moves to Cairo in search of a better life. When he enlists friend Salem's help to find him a job, Salem not only gets him a job at the ministry where he works but he finds him a bride as well. But the bride is the mistress of Qasem Bek, who will be visiting her once a week.
I Am FreeI Am Free · 1959
I Am Free
6.71959
MovieDrama
Part of a trilogy by Salah Abu Seif about women’s empowerment. The film takes place in late 1940s / early 1950s urban Egypt, and tells the story of a young woman’s search for personal freedom and a fulfilling identity as a young modern Egyptian.
The Ostrich and the PeacockThe Ostrich and the Peacock · 2002
The Ostrich and the Peacock
7.32002
MovieDrama
(Hamdy) and (Samira) married to traditional marriage,and they are not satisfied sexually because of problems rooted with them since childhood. Samira goes to Dr.(Fatma) the Psychiatrist hoping to find a solution for their problem,who succeeds in convincing the husband to take part in therapy.
The Second WifeThe Second Wife · 1967
The Second Wife
7.41967
MovieDramaThriller
A story in the Egyptian countryside about an unjust mayor who controls everything in the village with his power.
The BeastThe Beast · 1954
The Beast
7.11954
MovieDramaAction
Abdel Sabour was a thief and a smuggler known as The Beast to the people in one of the villages of upper Egypt; everyone was afraid of him, including the police. He enjoyed the protection of Redwan Pasha, who in turn used him during elections to eliminate his rivals. Officer Raouf Saleh was sent to the village with his wife and son with the assignment of arresting The Beast. However The Beast and his gang worked together from the beginning trying to dispose of the officer and his family in any way possible.
The Girls in SummerThe Girls in Summer · 1960
The Girls in Summer
8.31960
MovieMusicDrama
Loyal to her husband suffers from a weak personality due to strict upbringing, which exposes her to falling into the trap of her husband’s friend. There is another husband who falls in love with the maid and wants to get close to her very much, but he is afraid for his reputation, so he treats her very harshly and harasses her. There is the shy young man who falls in love with her. He falls in love with his neighbor, but she is not convinced by him because of his great shyness.
Between Heaven and EarthBetween Heaven and Earth · 1959
Between Heaven and Earth
8.61959
MovieComedyDrama
In the blasting heat of a Friday afternoon in Cairo, a group of people – among them a movie star, a thief, a madman, a cook and a pregnant woman – find themselves trapped in an elevator for 12 hours.
Salama Is FineSalama Is Fine · 1937
Salama Is Fine
6.91937
MovieComedyDrama
A courier is sent to deposit a cash amount to the bank but he arrives late. He goes to a hotel to spend the night and keeps the money in the hotel safe, but he gets confused with the Prince of Kandahar and who admires him and insists on keeping this confusion to reveal his enemies.