Barsoum Looking for a Job

Plot

Barsoum Looking for a Job follows the story of two unemployed friends in 1920s Egypt: Sheik Metwalli, a Muslim, and Barsoum, a Coptic Christian, both suffering from extreme poverty and hunger. The two men compete for a single job opening at a local bank, desperate for employment to survive their dire circumstances. When the bank's director mistakenly believes they are wealthy businessmen, he invites them to his home for an elaborate lunch, treating them with respect and hospitality. The truth is eventually revealed about their actual unemployed status, leading to the director furiously chasing them out of his house in anger and embarrassment. The film concludes with the two friends sitting on the sidewalk, digesting their first substantial meal in a long time, only to be arrested by a policeman in a cruel twist of fate.

Historical Background

This film was produced in 1923, a crucial period in Egyptian history following the 1919 Egyptian Revolution against British colonial rule. Egypt had achieved nominal independence in 1922, and there was a burgeoning sense of national identity and cultural renaissance. The film industry itself was in its infancy, with most films being made by foreign companies or pioneering Egyptian filmmakers working with limited resources. The early 1920s saw significant economic challenges in Egypt, with high unemployment rates and class disparities, themes directly addressed in this film. The portrayal of Muslim-Christian friendship was particularly significant given the religious tensions that sometimes existed in Egyptian society. This film emerged during a period when Egyptian artists and intellectuals were exploring what it meant to be Egyptian in the modern world, using cinema as a medium for social commentary and cultural expression.

Making Of

The production of 'Barsoum Looking for a Job' took place during the formative years of Egyptian cinema, when filmmakers were working with extremely limited resources and technical equipment. Director Mohamed Bayoumi, who had experience in documentary filmmaking, brought a realistic approach to this narrative feature. The casting of both Muslim and Coptic Christian characters in leading roles was intentional, reflecting Egypt's religious diversity and promoting a message of unity. The film was shot on location in Cairo, capturing the authentic atmosphere of the city in the early 1920s. The actors would have had to rely heavily on physical expression and gestures to convey emotion, as this was a silent production. The lavish lunch scene would have been one of the more complex sequences to film, requiring multiple setups and careful choreography to show the contrast between the director's hospitality and his later anger.

Visual Style

As a silent film from 1923, the cinematography would have relied on basic camera techniques available at the time. The visual style likely featured static shots with occasional camera movements following the conventions of early cinema. The filmmakers would have used lighting to create contrast between the poverty of the protagonists and the wealth of the bank director's home. Close-ups would have been used to capture the actors' expressions, crucial for conveying emotion in silent cinema. The street scenes would have provided authentic views of 1920s Cairo, making the film historically valuable for its documentary aspects. The cinematography would have been black and white, using the available film stocks of the period.

Innovations

While the film did not feature groundbreaking technical innovations by international standards, it represented significant achievements for the nascent Egyptian film industry. The production managed to create a coherent narrative feature-length film at a time when most Egyptian productions were short documentaries or simple scenes. The filmmakers successfully adapted cinematic storytelling techniques to address specifically Egyptian social and cultural themes. The film's existence demonstrated that Egyptian filmmakers could work with limited technical resources to produce content that resonated with local audiences. The coordination of multiple locations and complex scenes, particularly the lunch sequence, showed growing sophistication in Egyptian film production capabilities.

Music

As a silent film, there was no recorded soundtrack. However, like most silent films of the era, it would have been accompanied by live music during theatrical screenings. In Egypt, this typically meant either a piano accompanist or, in larger theaters, a small orchestra. The music would have been chosen to match the mood of each scene - lighter, comedic music for the mistaken identity scenes, and more dramatic music for the moments of hardship and the tragic conclusion. Some theaters in major Egyptian cities might have used traditional Egyptian instruments alongside Western ones to create a unique hybrid sound appropriate for the local setting.

Memorable Scenes

• The mistaken identity sequence where the bank director believes the unemployed friends are wealthy businessmen
• The lavish lunch scene where the protagonists enjoy their first good meal in a long time
• The dramatic reversal when the truth is revealed and the director chases them from his home
• The final poignant scene where the friends are arrested while resting on the sidewalk after their meal

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception of the film is difficult to document due to the limited film press in Egypt during the 1920s. However, surviving accounts suggest that the film was well-received by audiences who appreciated its local setting and relatable characters. Modern film historians and critics view the work as an important artifact from the dawn of Egyptian cinema, praising its ambitious social commentary and early exploration of themes that would become central to Egyptian filmmaking. Critics today note the film's historical value over its artistic merits, given the technical limitations of the period. The film is often cited in academic studies of early Arab cinema as an example of how Egyptian filmmakers quickly adapted cinematic language to address local social and cultural issues.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1923 Egypt reportedly responded positively to the film's depiction of familiar characters and situations. The story of unemployment and economic hardship resonated strongly with viewers who were experiencing similar challenges in post-WWI Egypt. The comedy elements, particularly the mistaken identity plot, provided entertainment while the social commentary gave the film substance. The friendship between the Muslim and Coptic Christian characters was appreciated as a positive representation of Egyptian unity. Contemporary accounts suggest that audiences found the film's ending particularly powerful, if tragic, as it reflected the harsh realities faced by the poor in Egyptian society. The film's success helped demonstrate that there was an audience for locally-produced Egyptian films with relevant social themes.

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