A Train Leaves The Station

Incoming Editorial·Reviewed June 3, 2026

Since its very beginning, cinema has been fascinated by trains (Lumière). Mahmoud Ibrahim is well aware of this tradition, and in his film, the train, rather than arriving, will depart – toward Alexandria, where Ahmed has decided to study film, despite the concerns of his loving mother, the ever-challenging economic context, and the emigration desires of his contemporaries and friends. The old question of youth hangs in the air: should I stay or should I go?