This complicated and surreal autobiographical film explores the personal life and fantasies that have shaped the motion pictures of Youssef Chahine. Taking a stand for democracy Yehia (Chahine s on-screen alter ego) joins a hunger protest which has rallied together the entire Egyptian film industry. As the strikers mount their demands the director becomes overwhelmed by his infatuation for Amir the young actor whose career he launched with the film Alexandria...Why? But this obsession is soon overshadowed by his interest in Nadia the beautiful inginue whom he decides to cast in his next feature.