A film of interest for Egyptophiles everywhere, Love in Karnak brilliantly brings together Egypt's cultural and musical traditions, past and present, in a vivid and refreshing way. Set against the backdrop of Luxor and its marvelous Pharaonic monuments, it is a fictionalized narrative on the founding of the Rida Troupe, Egypt's first national folkloric dance troupe. Invited to present its first show amid the spectacular ancient ruins, the troupe's romantically involved lead dancers jeopardize the success of the show when a series of errors leads each to believe their love affair is over. Breaking with the conventions of earlier films in which the featured soloist was often backed by badly trained extras, this film presents ensemble pieces adapted from Egyptian folk dance and performed by dancers trained in ballet technique. Love in Karnak represents a rare attempt to adapt dance and music to the conditions of public-sector production following the nationalization of the film industry in 1964.