Stories from Rural Egypt

This collection is a specially curated sampling of posters from films that represent a distinctive theme in Egyptian cinema: stories spotlighting the peoples, communities and experiences of rural Egypt. These narratives courageously explore a variety of relevant social themes, including the persisting feudal system, intra-community power dynamics, generational poverty, cultural and social norms, family revenges, attachment to land, attempts at agrarian reform, and urban migration. Regardless of sub-theme, these films typically represent village life in a way that's nostalgic and idealized, though often problematic or even bitter.

The posters for these films are unique and compelling artworks that each provide a snapshot of a different story worth exploring, and each is a worthy collectible for Egyptian cinema fans and those interested in rural stories.

Further reading: The Rural-Urban Binary in Egyptian Film and Culture