Leading Egyptian Filmmaker and LFS Alumnus Mohamed Khan dies at 73
Khan, who was a British national born to a Pakistani father and Egyptian mother only gained Egyptian citizenship by presidential decree in March 2014 after years of bureaucratic struggles.
He grew up in a house next to a cinema, from where he would sit and look at the seats inside the cinema, unable to see the screen. Despite having dreamed of becoming an architect, Khan grew up to become one of the best filmmakers of his generation.
Khan’s films are famous as being poignantly honest renditions of reality; often denouncing the oppression of Egyptian women and fighting social ills in films that were acclaimed by critics and the public alike.
A key figure in the Egypt's neorealist cinematic movement, Khan's films included ‘The Street Player’ (1984), ‘The Wife of an Important Man’ (1987) and ‘Dreams of Hind and Camilia’ (1988) — all of which were named among the "100 Greatest Arab Films of All Time" by the Dubai International Film Festival.
The 73-year-old director's last film ‘Before the Summer Crowds' was released in Egypt in March and his penultimate feature, ‘Factory Girl’, was Egypt's submission for the best foreign-language film at the Academy Awards in 2014. Created in honour of iconic Egyptian actress Soad Hosny, the film’s plot revolves around 21-year-old Hiyam, a working-class girl who falls in love with her supervisor.
Reactions from Arab celebrities expressed their loss and mourning of the cinematic icon:
“I was shocked to hear about the loss of a giant in cinema directing. Mohamed Khan influenced many generations and changed the face of cinema in Egypt.” -Director and critic Ahmed Hassouna.
“A knight.” -Filmmaker Amir Ramsis.
“We lost an icon of Egyptian Cinema, and one of the most important and finest directors.” -Actress Wafaa Amer.
"Khan excelled in presenting a realistic panorama and a rich social, political and humanistic record of Egyptian society in a simple manner.” -Minister of Culture Helmy El-Namnam.
“Thank you truly…We are grateful.” -BBC presenter Rasha Kandil.
Trailer for Factory Girl: https://vimeo.com/116525614
In his own words
"I like the audience to find for themselves whatever they want to find. I’m just an observer. That’s all I’m doing."