The yacoubian building omaret yakobean 2006 rotten tomatoes. But in the yacoubian building, an apartment complex on a downtown street tells the story of a whole nation. The book was also adapted into a film, the highest grossing film ever made in egypt. The film revolves around saeed almasri adel imam, one of the pilots of the october war who lost his sight after his plane exploded in the war are forced to. Feb 22, 2005 yacoubian building houses uncomfortable truths the controversial, bestselling egyptian novel the yacoubian building describes a country that is corrupt, unfair and thuggish. It tells the story of life in cairo through several interwoven narratives. The yacoubian building was a best seller in egypt, and this summer a feature film based on the novel opened there to popular and critical acclaim although members of. Scheherazade, tell me a story is a powerful indictment of misogyny that overturns stereotypes about egypt through the dramatic stories women recount on a television show. Set in the late 20th century egypt, after the egyptian revolution of 1952, the yacoubian building started filling up with people from egypts lower class, while some others from the upper and middle classes stayed put. Through their various exploits, we learn about businessmen, politics, closet homosexuality, students, entrepeneurs and families living hand to mouth. Built in 1934 and named after the leader of the armenian community, it was long regarded as the last word in comfort and elegance.
The bawwab of adjacent 32 talaat harb where scenes for the movie were filmed, since the crew was banned from the yacoubian got to hobnob with starlets and was even recruited for a small role. Interview with director and star of the yacoubian building duration. Loosely based on a highly popular novel by egyptian writer alaa al aswani, this film portrays episodes in the lives of the people who live here. Feb 22, 2005 the following are excerpts from the yacoubian building by egyptian author alaa al aswany. The yacoubian building provides a glimpse into the complicated lives of residents of an egyptian building. Built in 1934 for an armenian millionaire, its fall from grace is for this author just one aspect of egypts general dilapidation. The yacoubian building in cairo is still an eyecatching construction. The movie, yacoubian building, is based on a novel by the same title, which was written by an egyptian author called alaa al aswany. This excellent black drama is a must see despite its nearly. For those coming into the film cold, opportunities for tightening seem obvious, and hameds learning curve as a director shows in every inefficiently constructed scene. The main characters of this fiction, northern africa story are. It has been reported to be the highestbudgeted film in the history of egyptian cinema.
Your analysis of the portrayal of homosexual themes in the film is very well thoughtout. This 41page guide for the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 2 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. The residents of the yacoubian building hardly talk to each other, separated by the walls of the building.
A surer hand could have shaped this epic into a far more powerful cinematic experience. The yacoubian building is a true blockbusterthe bestselling novel in the middle east for two years and the inspiration for the biggest budget movie ever produced in egypt, according to national geographic. The yacoubian building holds all that egypt was and has become over the 75 years since its namesake was built on one of downtown cairos main boulevards. Both men and women are manipulative and thieving, with women. Adapted from the bestselling novel by alaa al aswany, it is known as the highestbudgeted film in egyptian cinema. The yacoubian building is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. Yacoubian building or omaret yaqoubian was released in 2006. The yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 2006 not even. In yacoubian building, a richly layered tale of life in cairo the. The yacoubian building has topped the bestseller lists for over two years, been adapted for the.
The yacoubian building 2006 directed by marwan hamed. Eleventh film from the list of recommendations still accepting all recs, the second by youssef. But even as it stands, the yacoubian building is rich and imposing. Dec 14, 2007 but bleak and flawed as it is, the yacoubian building a. Constructed as a series of vignettes about characters whose fates will soon converge, a stylistic device highly popular in todays hollywood, egyptian author alaa al aswanys arabic bestseller the yacoubian building brings to life a seedy and despicable cairo where only the corrupted and the corruptible can fare well. This is a pretty new adel imam film, and it is the summary of the well known story from where come the film name. Sep 14, 2007 the yacoubian building 3 5 stars 3 out of. In yacoubian building, a richly layered tale of life in. The yacoubian building is one of cairos most famous pieces of architecture. Alaa al aswanys the yacoubian building 2002, which became a bestselling egyptian and arab novel worldwide in the past decade, owes its title to the ambition of an armenian millionaire who wanted immortality through a building that bears his name. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany translated by humphrey daviesharper perennial, 2006, 255 pp. Meanwhile, the building, like all wellknown personalities, is making others famous by association. The movie was done in the year 2006 and was directed by marwan hamed.
It follows the stories of several characters who live in the yacoubian building, a onceluxurious building that houses rich residents inside and. Oct 29, 2015 the yacoubian building by alaa al aswany in chm, epub, fb3 download ebook. The yacoubian is a luxury apartment building which was built in cairo in the late 30s. The yacoubian building itself is a oncehandsome art deco block on the boulevard known now as talaat harb, but here called by its old name of suleiman basha street. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany goodreads. Free download or read online the yacoubian building pdf epub book. Click download or read online button to get the yacoubian building book now. The yacoubian building omaret yakobean photos view all photos 2 movie info. The center of the book is the various stories of some of the people who live and work in the yacoubian building. The locale of the novel is downtown cairo, with the titular apartment building serving as both a. Rent the yacoubian building 2006 on dvd and bluray dvd. M arwan hameds version of the bestselling novel by alaa al aswany is a portmanteau account of a handful of characters living in an apartment building in cairo in 1990, just before the first iraq. Most politicians criticized the book extensively, and asked for it to be banned, allegedly because it was giving the country a bad name spotlight.
Following that lead, the yacoubian building is filled with sexual harassment, promiscuity, homosexuality, and even pedophilia, all described in graphic detail. The yacoubian building, by alaa al aswany, trans humphrey. Alaa elaswany, who is a dentist, does not shy away from weaving sordid tales of political corruption, sexuality and torture in his story. If you are interested in coming to the bookclub next year contact the worldwise center at. Erected in the mid 1930s in cairos newly europeanized centre, the building is an. The yacoubian building by alaa alaswani a story of social. Come browse our large digital warehouse of free sample essays. Published in arabic in 2002 and in an english translation in 2004, the book, ostensibly set in 1990 at about the time of the first gulf war, is a roman a clef and scathing portrayal of modern egyptian society since the revolution of 1952. What they read made them wish their residence had continued to dwell in obscurity.
Rent the yacoubian building 2006 starring adel imam and nour elsherif on dvd and bluray. Its main genre is drama but it has also incorporated comedy within its context. The yacoubian building is the sort of dense neighbourhood novel which, though quite out of style when set in london or. In fact, it was reportedly the attention surrounding the upcoming film that drove the building s apartment and business owners to pick up al aswanys novel.
It has been reported to be the highestbudgeted fil m in the history of egyptian cinema. The yacoubian building is adapted from a novel of the same name by alaa al aswany, which took the arab world by storm upon release in. The yacoubian building holds all that egypt was and has become over the 75 years since its namesake was built. Mar 06, 2016 alaa al aswanys the yacoubian building 2002, which became a bestselling egyptian and arab novel worldwide in the past decade, owes its title to the ambition of an armenian millionaire who wanted immortality through a building that bears his name. In the course of this unforgettable novel, these disparate lives converge, careening inexorably toward an explosive conclusion. The yacoubian building 2006 is an egyptian film directed by marwan hamed. Prostitutes were given permits and had to be checked for disease every week. Erected in the mid 1930s in cairos newly europeanized centre, the building is an architectural jewel, and was then the home of a multitude of. The french and greek structures of the building itself describes westernized egyptian culture, almost attempting to become one with the nations who have colonized them, renouncing traditional egyptian styled architecture and traditions. Meditations on corruption, fundamentalism, prostitution, homosexuality, and drugs in. Harsh impact of dictatorship and corruption on citizens of all classes alaa al aswanis novel the yacoubian building weaves the lives together of residents of the titular building where wealthy residents live below the ramshackle units for the destitute on the roof.
I have not seen the movie but ive seen some of the tv episodes, and i think the. Tragicomic, passionate, shockingly frank in its sexuality, and brimming with an extraordinary, embracing human compassion, the yacoubian building is a literary achievement of the first order. Published in 2002 in its original arabic edition, the yacoubian building is a novel by egyptian author alaa al aswany. Apr 27, 2006 based on the novel by the same title, the author dr. This tenstory structure, i found, has a lot to say.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 256 pages and is available in paperback format. I appreciate your argument that hamed portrays the apartment building in such a way as to represent life in egypt as a whole. The first edition of the novel was published in 2002, and was written by alaa al aswany. With adel emam, nour elsherif, youssra, essad youniss. Once the movie hits the screens, the yacoubian is bound to become a household name. The film expresses all these elements through the lives of those who reside in the yacoubian building, representing segments within the egyptian society.
This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Alaa alaswanys novel the yacoubian building 2002, arabic tells the story of a group of people loosely bound together by dint of living in the same crumbling building a real place in downtown cairo. However, the movement had more political ambitions, and soon moved to abolish the constitutional monarchy and aristocracy of egypt and sudan, establish a republic, end the british occupation of the country, and secure the independence of sudan. It follows the stories of several characters who live in the yacoubian building, a onceluxurious building that houses rich residents inside and a shanty town on its roof, creating a clear divide between the building. Built to rival the stately victorian apartment buildings of paris and. Yacoubian building film analysis 1848 words essay example. But the war is not the focus of the book, it is pretty much background. The film opens with a luff tracing the buildings history, as wealthy expatriate and egyptian residents give way. It is only recently that arab film and literature have started to approach the subject of sex with unflinching openness.
Pius haj azzam takes a second wife, in secret, to satisfy sexual drive within religious bounds. The building doesnt talk, of course, but it shelters the many people whose lives the book recounts. The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a tv series in 2007. Get the knowledge you need in order to pass your classes and more.
Props for a recommendation i most likely would never have seen if it wasnt for this list. Download pdf the yacoubian building free online new books. The yacoubian building is entertaining and does offer a good overview of contemporary cairo life, but with its many stories and its simplifications can feel more like it skims the surface than truly explores the many hidden depths even as it shares so many intimacies. Nowadays the veneer has cracked and the shine has dulled to. This controversial bestselling novel in the arab world re. Themes in the yacoubian building by lancelot naipierkane on. American readers coming to this novel will find it a vibrant and descriptive primer illuminating the various forces in. How undemocratic is a society that tolerates such scathing criticism. Apr 29, 2018 this is a thorough analysis of the film, the yacoubian building.
Aug 27, 2006 the yacoubian building was a best seller in egypt, and this summer a feature film based on the novel opened there to popular and critical acclaim although members of the egyptian parliament. Our analysis of alla al aswanys novel the yacoubian building as well as the film of the same name. So the first thing you want to know about the yacoubian building is. In terms of a mosaicstyle narrative, i think the yacoubian building is more love actually than magnolia or short cuts. Yacoubian building houses uncomfortable truths the controversial, bestselling egyptian novel the yacoubian building describes a country that. The edition used in this guide was translated by humphrey davies. Pdf the yacoubian building book by alaa al aswany free. The revolution was initially aimed at overthrowing king farouk. The yacoubian building distinguishes itself both as the most expensive egyptian film ever made and, despite its nearly threehour running time, one of the most watchable. Omaret yakobean still succeeds as an uncommonly bold meditation on many controversial, clandestine aspects of modern egyptian life. Imarat yaqubyan is a novel by egyptian author alaaalaswany. A sprawling, starstudded epic that spans all social classes in todays cairo, the yacoubian building distinguishes itself both as the most expensive egyptian film ever made and, despite its. In their stead, a new breed of cairenes has moved in.
From the pious son of the building s doorkeeper and the raucous, impoverished squatters on its roof, via the tattered aristocrat and the gay intellectual in its apartments, to the ruthless. Military coup led by muhammad naguib and gamal abdel nasser. The yacoubian building wikipedia republished wiki 2. The yacoubian building by alaa alaswany 2006 not even past. An eyecatching construction, the yacoubian building in cairo was long regarded as the last word in comfort and elegance. Egyptian sexuality in the 90s homosexuality was a taboo prostitution was made legal in late 18s up to early 19s. Themes in the yacoubian building by lancelot naipierkane. Alaa al aswanys novel the yacoubian building describes a beautiful building, combining french and greek architecture in grandiose statues and balconies, in the novel we follow the lives of those who live and work together in a building of the same name. In one scene he goes to protest being asked to donate 25% of the proceeds of a business scheme to the powersthatbe, only to be required to sit and wait to. From the pious son of the building s doorkeeper and the raucous, impoverished squatters on its roof, via the tattered aristocrat and the gay intellectual, each character embodies a facet of modern egypt.
In a rundown apartment building in downtown cairo, engineer zaki pasha adel imam and his sister, dawlat issad younis, live off an inheritance from their. The yacoubian building omaret yakobean 2006 rotten. The yacoubian building download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In this scathing critique of contemporary egypt, one is hard put to find a redeemable character. The yacoubian building is adapted from a novel of the same name by alaa al aswany, which took the arab world by storm upon release in 2002. The yacoubian building is fastmoving and actionpacked, with drama in every scene and shifts between the different strands used to provide tension. Read this essay on the yacoubian building by alaa alaswani a story of social decay. At the dawn of the 21st century, the yacoubian still has charm and a reputation for elegance, but is beginning to show clear signs of decay, and the rooftop laundry facilities now double as flats for the less fortunate.
The yacoubian building is a novel about modernday cairo, using the residents of the building as a broad crosssection of egyptian society. The yacoubian building film marwan hamed, 2006 the late egyptian writer naguib mahfouz wrote what was perhaps the definitive work of arabic literature in the 20th century. M arwan hameds version of the bestselling novel by alaa al aswany is a portmanteau account of a handful of characters living in an apartment building in. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Bothayna, poor and beautiful, supports her family, wanting to do so with dignity intact. Aug 08, 2015 the yacoubian building illustrates these two points in several ways. The book focuses mainly on the residents of the yacoubian building, a oncechic but now rundown edifice that acts as a metaphor for cairos own deterioration. This is a pretty new adel imam film, and it is the summary of the well known story from where come the film. The yacoubian building by alaa al aswany takes place in cairo in the 1990s during the first gulf war when iraq invaded kuwait and the u.
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