Karnak (film)

Karnak
Theatrical release poster
Egyptian Arabicالكرنك
Directed byAli Badrakhan
Written byNaguib Mahfouz
Screenplay byMamdouh El Leithy
Story byNaguib Mahfouz
Based onKarnak Café
Produced byMamdouh El Leithy
Starring
CinematographyMohsen Nasr
Edited bySaid El Sheikh
Music byGamal Salama
Production
company
El-Laithy Film
Distributed by
  • Aflam Misr Algadida (local)
  • El-Laithy Film (worldwide)
Release date
  • December 29, 1975 (1975-12-29)
Running time
140 minutes
CountryEgypt
LanguageEgyptian Arabic

Karnak (translit: Al-Karnak, Egyptian Arabic: الكرنك) is a 1975 Egyptian political film based on a novel written by Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz with the same name, and directed by Ali Badrakhan and starring Soad Hosny. It includes an ensemble cast that includes Nour El-Sherif, Kamal El-Shennawi, Farid Shawqi, Taheyya Kariokka, Emad Hamdy and Shwikar. The film features Salah Zulfikar in a special appearance as Shoukry the rebellious member of parliament.

The film is listed in the Top 100 films in Egyptian cinema of the 20th century. The film is set against the discussions between the patrons of a café in Cairo, the Karnak Café It follows the stories of three individuals during the 1960s, including the Six-Day War (1967), War of Attrition (1967–70) and ends with victory in October War (1973). Karnak was produced by Mamdouh El-Laiyhy for El-Laithy Film and was released in Egypt on December 29, 1975 by Aflam Misr Algadida, and worldwide release by El-Laithy Film.