The Stories (film)
| The Stories | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Abu Bakr Shawky |
| Written by | Abu Bakr Shawky |
| Produced by |
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| Cinematography | Wolfgang Thaler |
| Edited by | Roland Stöttinger |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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| Country | Egypt[1] |
The Stories is a 2025 anthology film directed by Abu Bakr Shawky.[1] It won the Golden Tanit for Best Film at the Carthage Film Festival and screened at other festivals like the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and the Red Sea International Film Festival.[2][3][4]
Structure
The film tells five different stories, surrounding Ahmed and Elizabeth, and mixes "archival footage of political speeches, soccer matches, film clips and radio transmissions with acted scenes." It is based on the story of how Shawky's parents—his Egyptian father and Austrian mother—met, wrote to each other as international pen pals, and fell in love in the seventies.[3][5]
Critical reception
Variety observed a relative lack of depth in the stories of women as compared to men, finding that it "feels less like a film about the bridging of two distinct worldviews than one about Ahmed reconfiguring his understanding of the only reality he's ever truly known through his bond with Elizabeth."[6]
Cineuropa concluded that The Stories was "a fun movie that would fare better in theatres than on a festival circuit dominated by gloomy arthouse pieces. In a milieu like this, it constitutes a refreshing change."[7]
In Review Online found the film "often compelling and enjosable" but lamented that some of its stories felt unrealized or underdeveloped.[8]
References
- ^ a b Goodfellow, Melanie (2025-12-05). "The Stories Teaser: Amir El-Masry, Nelly Karim & Valerie Pachner Star In Friendship Tale Set Against Egypt's Turbulent Late 20th Century – Red Sea". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ Reporter, Staff (2025-12-22). "Abu Bakr Shawky's 'The Stories' claims top honour at Carthage Film Festival". BroadcastPro ME. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ a b Szalai, Georg (2025-11-17). "'The Stories': Abu Bakr Shawky's Film, Inspired by How His Egyptian Dad and Austrian Mother Started off as Pen Pals, Is About "Worlds Meeting"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ Sheded, Mona. "Abu Bakr Shawky on bringing a past Egypt to screen in 'The Stories'". Screen. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick (2025-12-08). "'Yomeddine' Director Abu Bakr Shawky on Mining His Family History for 'The Stories' and Its Parallels With Egypt's Zamalek SC Soccer Club". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ Aguilar, Carlos (2025-12-05). "'The Stories' Review: An Improbable Connection Between Two People From Different Worlds Reveals Egypt's Recent History". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ "Review: The Stories". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 2025-11-18. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ^ Gorham, Luke (2025-11-20). "The Stories — Abu Bakr Shawky [PÖFF '25 Review]". In Review Online. Retrieved 2025-12-23.