Alexandria… Why?
1979, Arabic. Directed by Youssef Chahine.
Amid the poverty, death, and suffering caused by World War II, 18-year-old Yehia retreats into a private world of fantasy and longing. Obsessed with Hollywood, he dreams of studying filmmaking in America but struggles to pursue his dream, given the constraints of his life in the middle class and the horrors of war.
- Runtime
- 2h 13m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- Arabic
- Rated
- NR
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Where to watch Alexandria… Why?
Alexandria… Why? is streaming on Criterion Channel in India.
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Criterion ChannelAvailability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Part of a series
Alexandria Quad: watch order
Cast & crew
- Youssef ChahineDirector
- Mohsen Mohey ElDeinYehia
- Mahmood Al-MelejiShukri Murad, Yehia's Father
- Mohsena TawfiqYehia's Mother
- Abdullah MahmoudMohsen
- Ahmed ZakiIbrahim
- Naglaa FathySarah Sorel
- Ahmed MehrezAdel Bey
- Gerry SundquistThomas "Tommy" Friskin
- Laila HamadaNadia
- Farid ShawqyShaker Bey, Mohsen's Father
- Zeinab SedkyGrandmother
- Ezzat Al AlailyMorsi
Details
- Released
- 23 August 1979
- Original title
- إسكندرية ليه؟
- Country
- Algeria, Egypt
- Written by
- Mohsen Zayed, Youssef Chahine
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News & fan talk
After Alexandria… Why?
What comes next in the series.
If you liked Alexandria… Why?
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Alexandria… Why?: quick answers
What comes after Alexandria… Why??
Next in the series: An Egyptian Story (1982), Alexandria Again and Forever (1989), and Alexandria... New York (2004).
Is Alexandria… Why? worth watching?
Alexandria… Why? doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is Alexandria… Why??
Alexandria… Why? runs 133 minutes (2h 13m).
Does Alexandria… Why? have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for Alexandria… Why?. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
Alexandria… Why? parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
Alexandria… Why? is rated NR in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is Alexandria… Why? on?
Alexandria… Why? is streaming on Criterion Channel in India. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like Alexandria… Why??
If you liked Alexandria… Why?, try Waiting for Anya, The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell, Cast a Giant Shadow.
Who directed Alexandria… Why??
Alexandria… Why? (1979) was directed by Youssef Chahine and stars Mohsen Mohey ElDein, Mahmood Al-Meleji, Mohsena Tawfiq.