The Stories

Abu Bakr Shawky's 2026 Egyptian film tells a family story running from the late sixties into the eighties. Ahmed, the son of a middle-class Cairo family, wants to be a concert pianist. In the summer of 1967, with war approaching, he begins a correspondence with someone abroad. The film carries that exchange across years; the country's change and Ahmed's musical ambition move at once and cut across each other. Nelly Karim and Amir El-Masry appear. The music does work inside the narrative. The director's previous film also reached international release. Who it's for: those who like Egyptian cinema and family stories told across generations. Who it's not for: viewers wanting something short and concentrated; the film covers a long span.