Tomorrow, we celebrate Adel Emam’s 84th birthday. The Egyptian star has immortalized himself in Egyptian cinema with his 50-year legacy of playing remarkable roles. The actor has starred in a wide range of works such as the 1963 play I, He and She, the 1968 comedy Losos Laken Zorafaa, as well as his latest series Valentino released in 2020. Among these various roles are many that have left a lasting mark on our hearts and minds. Here are six films by Adel Emam you shouldn’t miss.
AL HAREEF – THE STREET PLAYER (1984)
“The age of serious playing is long gone…” Although this film did not garner much attention at the box office at the time of its release, it has come to be hailed by critics as one of the most important films starring Adel Emam. It is typically seen as one of Emam’s best acting roles yet. The film revolves around a man named Fares, who loses passion for everything but his penchant for playing football.
Watch here.
AL ENSAN YA`ESH MARA WAHIDA – A PERSON ONLY LIVES ONCE (1981)
This drama/romance centers Hani, played by Emam, and Amal, played by Yousra, who are both on a train moving farther away from the bustling urban landscape. As the film progresses, we come to find that Hani views life as a chaotic, unpredictable journey with no definitive purpose to streamline it. Amidst this nihilism, Hani helplessly falls in love with his travel companion, Amal.
Watch here.
AL-MASHBOUH – THE SUSPECT (1981)
Everything about this movie will lead you to be completely enamored by it. From Soaad Hosny’s dazzling performance to the film’s soundtrack, the film absolutely stuns audiences. The movie was Egyptian actor Kareem Abdelaziz’s cinematic debut as Emam’s child in the movie.
Watch here.
KHALY BALAK MIN A’LAK – TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND (1985)
Doctors falling for their patients is a trope as old as time. This movie follows Salwa, played by Sherihan, and Wael, played by Emam, who act out this timeless trope. Other than just being a classic romance, the film is also widely praised for its excellent soundtrack. Just look up Omar Khairat’s composition of the soundtrack and you’ll know why the movie deserves a spot on your watch list.
Watch here.
HATA LA YATIR AL DOKHAN – SO AS NOT TO DISSIPATE THE SMOKE (1984)
This book-to-film adaptation sheds light on class antagonism. The film fleshes out the idea of class stratification being the driver of social division and hostility. It follows a poor law student who is overridden by his resentment for his rich friends who refused to give him money to save his mother’s life.
Watch here.
AL MANSI (1993)
The glory of this film culminates in the intriguing dialogue between the titular Yousef Al-Mansi, played by Emam, and Ghada, played by Yousra. Tension arises when Yousef meets Ghada, a secretary who tries to escape the inevitability of her fate as Yousef tries to exploit her for his own benefit.
Watch here.
One surely cannot sum up the entirety of Adel Emam’s impressive acting legacy in six films. Imam’s filmography also encompasses other great works such as Al Leab Maa Al Kibar, Terrorism and Kebab, and Toyour Al Zalam. We hope to be seeing more of Adel Emam on the big screen again soon!
