Adieu Bonaparte: It's Hard To Say Goodbye!

17 May 2022

On this day, ADIEU BONAPARTE, by Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, premiered at the official competition of the 38th Cannes Film Festival. 

The film features a traditional Egyptian family whose life turned upside down because of the French expedition to Egypt at the end of the 18th century and highlights how their relationships evolved as a result of mingling with scientists, artists and military officers who accompanied the French troops.

The film is a co-production between Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, the French Ministry of Culture and Youssef Chahine’s Misr International Films. It stars Mohsena Tawfik, Salah Zulfikar, Gamil Ratib, Huda Sultan, Taheyya Kariokka, Mohsen Mohie Eldein, in addition to an array of French stars, including Patrice Chéreau and Michel Piccoli

 

It was released in over 20 theatres in France the day after it screened at Cannes Film Festival; then, it was commercially released in Cairo after several months. 

30 years later, on May 17th, 2016, the film replayed at the 69th edition of the Cannes Film Festival on the same day it first premiered. The film was restored by numerous parties, including Youssef Chahine’s association in France.