On the anniversary of his birth …the secret behind the relationship between Che Guevara and Atef El Tayeb

Che Guevara said that he feels pain on his face with every slap directed to the oppressed in this world, wherever there is injustice, this is where his home is. This was the exact sentiment for director Atef El Tayeb , who started off dreaming of becoming an actor, until he discovered that the whole secret behind the making is really in the hands of the director, hence became one.Atef’s intuition led him to believe that he has not long to live which in turn encouraged him to produce 21 films in 16 years, making him one of the most productive directors of his generation. Just as Guevara believed in the revolution whether in Cuba or Bolivia, this is how strongly Atef El Tayeb believed in the ideas he presented. Regardless of the script or filming technicalities, Atef would direct all his energy into the making of an idea he believed in such as “Al Hob Fawk Hadabet Al Haram” that seemed traditional yet was very successful due to the innovative ideas he included. Other movies were “Kateebet El Iedam”, “Al Takhsheeba” and “Malaf Fi Al Adaab”.Atef’s main concern during this period “the period of economic open door policy” was the people and the kind of suffering they endured during this period that lasted through the nineties. Atef aimed at exposing the political police and social oppression. He “addressed the issues that affected the citizens of the middle class, especially those from his generation.” He believes that “a person should be honest with themselves and others and offer truth and reality with integrity and without manipulation to the facts.”Atef El Tayeb directed three of the most revolutionary films ever to come out during this period. They were: “Sawak El Autobees” or “Bus Driver”, “Al Baree” or “The Innocent” and “Al Horoob” or “The Escape”. In these movies he offered a reality similar to that of legendary Salah Abu Seif . Both “The Bus Driver” and “The Innocent” offered a completely unusual approach to the Egyptian reality where he portrayed the social injustice that Egypt suffered and the escalation of the police state which deepened later on. As for “The Escape”, in my opinion, this was by far Atef’s masterpiece where he succeeded in providing major issues affecting the nation through the sub personal issues, and through depicting a case of revenge similar to the police working style in Egypt. Atef El Tayeb is one of the directors who wrote his clear history in the record of Egyptian cinema, and who was forever a great historical pillar. We are confident now, that he is following with interest the revolution of his country and its rise against oppression, which is what he called for his entire life.