17 Fouad Street
Egypt - Documentary - 2014 - 32 minutes
Arabic (Egyptian) and French dialogue. English subtitles

Available on Basita.live till 31 August 2022
Please click HERE to watch the film online
Synopsis
The film follows the pace of the working hours in “Chaussures Edouard”, the shop that Nubar inherited from his father and has been working in since his adolescence. The vast majority of the buyers are old clients. They stop by not only to replace their old shoes but also to exchange tales and stories about mutual friends. The shop can be considered a hub for Armenian friends and Alexandrians with foreign origins. This explains why it is normal listen to conversations there Arabic, Armenian, English and French. It is one of very few places that are left with this special scent of the old city. 
Nubar doesn’t seem to be really after acquiring more clients by exhibiting new shoes designs or models. Nevertheless, he is keen on abiding to the working hours of the shop, specially the three hours pause by the end of the day before the night shift. He has a unique behavior with his clients. It would be considered rude or unfriendly by newcomers. However, his old clients seem to be used to it.
Background
The history of Armenians in Egypt is quite old and complicated. Their presence in the country preceded the Armenian genocide. Many Egyptians of Armenian origins have had a great impact on the Egyptian political and cultural scenes. However, present time Armenians are quite conservative about being involved in political debates, their ancestors were hired to work in high ranked positions within the Egyptian cabinet. Needless to elaborate about the role of “Boghos Youssufian” (1768–1844), head of the Diwan Al-Tijara (bureau of commerce), the overseer of other financial affairs for Mohamed Ali. As well as Nubar Pasha (1825–1899) who became the first Prime Minister in modern Egypt.
“Chaussures Edouard” was founded by Nubar’s late father in one of the most prestigious boulevards of the city of Alexandria. Fouad street, and many of the neighbouring streets and alleys, used to be the place where you can buy high-end clothes models and shoes. This was not only an impact of the colonization, that lasted for seventy decades in the case of the British occupation, but also it a result for the cosmopolitan and international nature of the city.
Note
​This was simply one of the most enjoyable filmmaking experiences for me. I was intrigued by how the shop looked from outside. And I just could not resist getting inside and asking the kind owner to host me with my camera for a few days of shooting. Back then I was quite under the influence of the French filmmaker, Nicolas Philibert, and his idea about the fact that you can make a film "anywhere and about anyone" because there is a "story" to be told everywhere. 
​A few months after I have completed "17 Fouad Street", I had three or four books on my desk. I was to pick one as my next reading. I could not really decide which one to start with, so I decided to start reading a bit of each book and then see which one I will fall in love with. One of the books was a fiction by Harry Tzalas, "Seven Days at the Cecil". To my astonishment, the first chapter of the book ended by an encounter between the narrator and the owner of “Chaussures Edouard" in the shop. So the choice of the book was simply made.
Crew
​
Sound design and mixing by Samir Nabil
Colour grading by Tamer Nady
​Produced by Mohamad El-Hadidi
Shot, edited and directed by Ahmed Nabil
Production

​Rufy's​
The Arab Origami Center​   
The Egyptian Ministry of Culture 
(Cultural Development Fund, Al-Horeia Center for Creativity)
Les Valseurs
Screenings
March 2014 - Al-Horeia Center for Creativity, Alexandria.
March 2014 - German Film Week in Goethe Institute, Cairo.
April 2014 - 10th Rencontres de l'image Film Festival in the French Institute, Cairo.
September 2014 - 30th Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival, Alexandria.
February 2015 - Shorts Series Revisited Take #2 in Zawya, Cairo.
September 2015 - Egyptian TV - Channel Two.
June 2016 - Festival Gollut - Amics del Cinema de la Vall de Ribes, Barcelona.
September 2016 - Jesuit Film Festival, Eneba, Alexandria and Cairo.
October 2016 - "Alexandrie Ici" by Ici-Même, Grenoble.
​January 2017 - Sudan Independent Film Festival, Khartoum.
November 2017 - Alexandria Heritage Days, Alexandria.
August 2020 - Online screening for one month through Basita.
Awards
2014 - Best Short Documentary - 10th Rencontres de l'image Film Festival, Cairo.
2014 - Rafik El Sabban award - 30th Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival, Alexandria.
2016 - Miquel Porter i Moix award - 3rd Festival Gollut, Barcelona.
2016 - Jesuit Film Festival, short documentary award, Cairo.

Watch the teaser on Youtube or Vimeo