The Return of the Prodigal Son (Awdat Al-ibn al dal )

A prosperous farming family pins all its hopes on Ali, their son who has been away for 12 years in Cairo. When his return is announced, all prepare for a great celebration, but it’s soon revealed that Ali’s time in Cairo did not go as well as everyone imagined. Chahine weaves together a tale of multiple strands involving Ali, his family, and members of his community into at times a rousing but eventually devastating look at the high price of shattered dreams. A cynical take on the bible’s parable, this daring work charts the Egyptian director’s first great political allegory.