Youssef Chahin Egyptian cinema legend 'in coma'

Darius Kadivar
by Darius Kadivar
16-Jun-2008
 

Leading Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine is reported to be in a coma after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

The official Egyptian news agency said the 82-year-old Mr Chahine was being taken to France for urgent treatment.

Youssef Chahine is one of the Arab world's most distinguished filmmakers. He has made about 40 films in a career that started in the 1950s.

He has been a persistent critic of Islamic fundamentalism, and corruption in Egyptian political life.

More recently, he has also been a prominent opponent of American foreign policy in the Middle East.

Chahine received a lifetime achievement award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997.

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