A landmark in Egyptian cinema and adapted from Alaa Al Aswany's spectacularly popular novel, "The Yacoubian Building" deftly blends multiple personal stories of the denizens of a Cairo apartment building from the decadent upper-class beys and pashas in the fading glory of the downstairs apartments to the immigrants from Upper Egypt, prey to exploitation and fundamentalist overtures, on the roof. An excellent montage of characters who both symbolise modern Egypt and are caught in its decline.