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Poster for Cairo Station

Cairo Station

Seen it?

1958 | 77 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved Furious 7 or Touch of Evil, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 17 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in another language, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1958: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Qinawi, a physically challenged peddler who makes his living selling newspapers in the central Cairo train station, is obsessed with Hanuma, an attractive young woman who sells drinks. While she jokes with him about a possible relationship, she is actually in love with Abu Siri, a strong and respected porter at the station who is struggling to unionize his fellow workers to combat their boss' exploitative and abusive treatment.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.4 out of 10

  • AwardsWeak

    0 wins and 1 nomination from smaller awards and festivals

  • Reach & staying powerSolid

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 17K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Youssef Chahine

  • Farid ShawqyAbu Siri
  • Hind RostomHanuma
  • Youssef ChahineQinawi
  • Hassan El BaroudyMadbouli
  • Abdel Aziz KhalilAbo Gaber
  • Ahmed AbazaMansour
  • Essmat Mahmoud
  • Hussain Ismaelراكب بالقطار
  • Naima Wasfiزعيمة منظمة المراة الحرة
  • Abdel Ghani El Nagdiمسافر صعيدي