Throughout the 1 hour and 35-minute runtime, Youssef Chahine’s Cairo Station, utilizes many symbols and objects to reflect the director’s inner thoughts and to foreshadow events yet to come in the film. As a result, these symbols decisively add more layers to the screenplay and make the film a great one to watch.
One such symbol is the use of the little cat that appears a few times on screen in front of both Hanouma and Qinawi. The cat is first seen in the presence of Hanouma while she is changing with Qinawi creepily watching behind some barrels. When Hanouma reaches for the cat in order to hold it, the creature appears to resist and escapes her grasp before eventually jumping away, ultimately revealing her suitor. Most believe that animals and small children are subconscious judgers of character and it appears that the cat is escaping Hanouma’s grasp due to her promiscuity and deceitfulness as she leads Qinawi on. She does not realize that her character and her acts effectively cause Qinawi to spiral into obsession and eventually into thinking irrationally. Another interpretation could be that the cat is simply trying to warn the woman about the danger of her suitor or even his character. When the cat jumps, it reveals Qinawi behind the barrel and then the two have a quarrel about the voyeuristic act. Either way, this scene definitely foreshadows ever so slightly the events that are soon to come.
(Hanouma entices and flirts around with Qinawi even though she has no interest in him. Courtesy of: theculturist.com and youtube.com)
Another symbol that is visited throughout the film is the depiction of two young lovers of whom encounter each other every so often. Qinawi is always seen observing the two as they interact, and it is obvious to see that he is jealous of their situation and wishes that he could be in their shoes. Throughout the film, the two are depicted as in love but, the relationship seems to be long-distanced and secretive as the girl is shown near the beginning on the phone with her man, begging him to find an excuse to see her. In the end, the man leaves the woman on a train and Qinawi watches as the scene takes place. This represents Qinawi and his endeavors to find love in Hanouma during the film. Qinawi tries and offers her what he can but, he ultimately ends up empty handed in a straight jacket. Throughout the film, the woman also gives her all to this man of whom is not serious enough about her to express his feelings publicly and leaves her empty handed like Qinawi. This side story could also represent the idea of pan-arabism in a way that the idea is much like the long-distance relationship that Qinawi sees occur throughout the film: it seems desirable at first but, ultimately could never work in the end. This explanation seems logical as the film came out in 1958 which was during Gamal Abdel Nasser’s rule. Additionally, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, Nasser was “Pan-Arabism’s most charismatic and effective proponent.”
Effectively through the symbols of the cat and the side story relationship, director Youssef Chahine is able to layer the story of Cairo Station and hint at future events that are soon to come in the film. Without these symbols among many others, the story would be bare and simple and would probably not have gained as much popularity.
Works Cited
-Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Pan-Arabism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 July 2011, http://www.britannica.com/topic/Pan-Arabism.
-Chahine, Youssef, director. Cairo Station. 1958.
-Mezaina, Hind. “For the Love of Film (Noir) – Cairo Station.” The Culturist, The Culturist, 19 Feb. 2011, http://www.theculturist.com/home/for-the-love-of-film-noir-cairo-station.html.
Through an Arabic Lens: the Intersection of Film and Culture 
I was so caught up in the fact that Qinawi named the cat after Hanouma in order to feed his obsession. It is very often said that animals offer great judgments of character and for Hanouma (cat) to not like Hanouma (person) because she was being deceitful is actually very insightful. This post has offered a little more insight and thoughtfulness to the film for me.
Comparing Qinawi and the young girl lover is a good point, because they do both end up not obtaining what the people they wanted and loved. Both tried to appeal to their respective targets of affection, in Qinawi’s case, offering promises of a good life and gifts to Hanouma despite his income, but to no avail. The comparison to pan-arabism was something I never thought of and a good point, as despite attempts and the idealization of it, ultimately it wouldn’t work due to differences- just like the relationships seen in the film.
I really like the focus on why Qinawi named his cat Hanouma after the girl he wanted to be with. Another scene that foreshadowed in Cairo Station was when Qinawi cut up a page in magazine that was a picture of a girl. This foreshadowed the events of Qinawi mutilating what he thought was Hanouma.
I love your mentioning of the couple as a symbol of pan-arabism, and the fact that it is desired, but not at all obtainable, it’s a good comparison, and something I never noticed before. Especially in the context with Nasser.
I like that you referenced the young lovers as symbolism for Qinawis situation but I feel like its represented different than you say. I believe that once he sees them leave he realizes that true love doesn’t last forever and he should make his efforts with haste, that’s why he goes in to a blitz to get with Hanouma because he believes his time is running out.
I had forgotten that the cat is even in the beginning part of the film. For me it didn’t have significance until Qinawi became obsessed with it as a symptom of his obsession of Hanouma. Also I like your interpretation of the cat warning Hanouma better than that the cat is judging her. If that were true, then the cat would have immediately rejected Qinawi.
While I enjoy the explanation of your thesis, I believe that you could have expanded more on the particular layers that you describe. You define two specific characteristics of the move, the metaphor of the black cat, and the love of Qinawi. I would have liked to see more examples of the layering that you describe throughout the move.
I feel that you made a great point with the pan-Arab-ism theory because it is an interesting way to perceive the relationship between Hanouma and Qinawi as it ultimately does not work out in the end. The cat could have definitely been a used as a warning to the viewers as well. I never thought about it like that when I was watching the film in class.
Hanouma displayed a lack of care for her interactions, but it’s not as if she needed to. She could have been more aware of Qinawi’s mind state but it’s not always up to the women to let men know there not interested continuously. The first sign should be the last sign. In the same sense though, Hanouma was messing around with another fellow that did not care to much for her either. Hanouma could be described as naive; because her continual lack of care for herself, and the people she affected.