To commemorate Chile’s National Day, the Cervantes Institute in Cairo, in collaboration with the Chilean Embassy and Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIRAC), is hosting two cultural events celebrating the life and legacy of Pablo Neruda—one of the most influential poets of the 20th century.
On Monday, September 22, the Institute will screen Neruda, a Chilean-Argentine-Spanish co-production directed by Pablo Larraín, starting at 7:00 PM. The film offers a bold and imaginative portrait of Neruda in the late 1940s, blending political drama with magical realism as it follows his escape from persecution after losing parliamentary immunity. During this time, he also wrote his iconic poem The General. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles.
On Tuesday, September 23, the Arabic-language play Smoldering Patience (The Postman and Pablo Neruda) will be performed at 8:00 PM. Adapted and performed by Ahmed Yehia and directed by Mohamed Fathy, the play reinterprets Antonio Skármeta’s acclaimed novel, which inspired the beloved film Il Postino. It tells the story of Mario Jiménez, a young postman in Isla Negra, whose friendship with Neruda sparks a journey of poetic awakening and first love. The performance will be in Arabic only, with no subtitles or translation. Doors will close at the start of the show.
Both events are free and will be held at the Cervantes Institute’s headquarters in Cairo. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Chile’s Independence Day, celebrated annually on September 18, commemorates the country’s historic journey to sovereignty and the milestones of its War of Independence.
Through initiatives like these, the Cervantes Institute continues to foster cultural exchange with Spanish-speaking embassies in Egypt, curating a vibrant program of film screenings, theatre productions, literary discussions, and visual exhibitions that highlight the richness of Hispanic and Latin American cultures.
