Analysis for Selected Comedy Films in Egyptian Cinema

In this study, Egyptian comedy films between the years 1995-2010 have been studied. The numerical analysis based on check list to support the main assumption in this study that ―comedy is the most popular genre in Egypt within the selected period of study‖. After proving this assumption, two films; first Molasses which its original name in Arabic ―Asal Aswad‖ (2010) and the second film ―Bobbos‖ (2009) have been selected to be examined in detail. In the study, context analysis and semiotics have been used. Semiotics, specifically, have been used to show the denotative and connotative meanings of the signs in these comedy films and to show how the Egyptian reality have been constructed through the films. This study attempts to show and compare the development and changes from 1990s to the present, and to describe how these changes have been reflected in the film production in the Egyptian film industry. Further, this study looked at the problems experienced by Egyptians as has been reflected and articulated in the aforementioned time span in the most popular genre of the film industry. Additionally, two main characters in the selected films have been analyzes using paradigmatic and syntagmatic analysis. This comparison have been made for a better understanding of the Egyptian society within the mentioned 15 years and how these changes and difficulties have been reflected through the characters studied. The conclusions of the study suggest that comedy film makers succeeded to make audiences 'laugh and think' at the same time. Comedy as a genre creates an ―invisible‖ space, which enables filmmakers to criticize the political system. It can also be said that, comedy was the most consumed genre within the period selected, but this was not a coincidence. It was a reflection of the Arab Spring which can be attributed to the poverty, unemployment, ill health, poor education, and unhappiness of Egyptians for many years under political regime. Surprisingly, the unhappy, desperate Egyptians were laughing watching the films which were a mirror of their own lives. The most prominent themes in the selected films were; hunger, poverty, obscurity and unemployment. Thus everyone can easily understand and identify with these themes. It can be said that these kind of films can be consumed easily, just like comedy movies. Therefore, in both films, there were many signifiers try to show the audiences the corrupt, inactive Egyptian system.