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 