Too Early / Too Late

1982 1h 44m FR

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 32

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Inspired by a letter by Friedrich Engels and a 1974 account of two militant Marxist writers who had been imprisoned by the Nasser regime, Straub-Huillet filmed this film in France and Egypt during 1980. They reflect on Egypt’s history of peasant struggle and liberation from Western colonization, and link it to class tensions in France shortly before the Revolution of 1789, quoting texts by Engels as well as the pioneering nonfiction film Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory (1895).

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Danièle Huillet
Narrator (segment A) (voice)
Bahgat Elnadi
Narrator (segment B) (voice) (as Bahgat el Nadi)
Gerard Samaan
Narrator (segment B) (voice)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Danièle Huillet
Writers: Jean-Marie Straub, Danièle Huillet
Languages: German, French, Arabic
Countries: Egypt, France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

44 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, French, Arabic.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Egypt, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Danièle Huillet, shot by William Lubtchansky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jean-Marie Straub shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Danièle Huillet and Bahgat Elnadi and Gerard Samaan carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0083230 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Danièle Huillet directs. William Lubtchansky behind the camera. Jean-Marie Straub cuts. Produced in Egypt, France. Dialogue in German, French, Arabic.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

144 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: German, French, Arabic.
3International production across 2 countries: Egypt, France.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Danièle Huillet, shot by William Lubtchansky. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Jean-Marie Straub shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Danièle Huillet and Bahgat Elnadi and Gerard Samaan carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0083230 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 32 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.