الليلة الأخيرة
THE LAST NIGHT (1963)
THE LAST NIGHT (1963)
The Last Night, produced during the golden age of the 1960s, is a landmark of Egyptian and Arab cinema that transcended its era, with an innovative plot and a precisely structured screenplay. Directed by Kamal El Sheikh—nicknamed the “Arab Hitchcock”—the film presented Faten Hamama in one of her most complex and daring roles, a deviation from her usual screen persona.
More than a psychological thriller, it reflected the fragility and strength of memory—as a means of resistance or surrender—within a storm of lost identity and existential uncertainty.
To this day, it remains a testament to Egyptian cinema’s ability to explore deep human struggles through timeless, artistic devices. The Last Night didn’t rely on modern effects or technology. Its impact came from the veracity of its vision and the excellence of its execution, earning it a lasting place in our cinema’s history. — ELIE TAYEH
Country of Origin: Egypt
Run Time: 2h
Language: Arabic
Rank in the list: 82nd
Genre(s): Mystery Thriller
Synopsis
A woman named Nadya (Faten Hamamah) waking up one morning to discover she is married to her sister’s husband. Noir premises don’t get much better than this. Shocked and confused, Nadya soon learns that she has always been married to the abusive Shoukri (Mahmoud Moursy) and that her sister Fawzia had died in an explosion 16 years earlier. After Shoukri dismisses her confusion as symptoms of mental illness, Nadya sets off to locate her family, but they no longer live at the address she remembers. Soon, the kind, handsome Dr. Ahmed (Ahmad Mazhar) takes an interest in both Nadya and her situation, becoming her sole ally in peeling back the layers of her disorientation, which can only conclude with a fight to the death. Hamamah is excellent as the deceived wife, subtly creating physical distance between herself and her ominous husband in every scene, and Moursy effectively projects a threatening presence even when trying to console her.
Notable Cast and Crew
Kamal El Sheikh
Director
Faten Hamama
Cast (Nadyah)
Ahmad Mazhar
Cast (Dr. Ahmed)
Mahmoud Moursy
Cast (Shoukri)
