Mercedes

Director Yousry Nasrallah satirizes Egyptian social and political tension in this lively comedy. With his blond hair and communist beliefs, Noubi (Zaki Abdel Wahab) stands out from his fellow countrymen. Rejecting the trappings of his wealthy materialistic family—including the ultra-luxe Egyptian status symbol, a Mercedes-Benz—he creates chaos with his plan to donate his inheritance to the Communist party. When his gay brother disappears, Noubi’s search takes him on an adventure filled with belly dancers, soccer fanatics, and Muslim fundamentalists. 1995, Egypt/France, color, 35mm, in Arabic with English subtitles, 108 minutes. This presentation is the opening night of Cinema and Society in the Arab World Conference, organized by the Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature Department at the University of Minnesota.