This movie is so well done! A must see if you know anything about Egypt and the region, but it has so much more to offer even if you don't.
First of all the story (based on true and remarkable events) is one that is uniquely Egyptian and speaks to so much of our own personal struggles and insecurities and dreams for a better life. I don't think anyone on this planet understands the real struggles Egyptians go through except Egyptians. But even within Egypt, people don't understand each other's struggles or how these struggles can change what you are made of or what you are willing to do to make thing better for you or your family and friends.
You will know from the trailer that the story is about a man who pretends to be blind to join a soccer team for the blind that will travel outside of Egypt which is his dream. It introduces the hero of the story as a bad bad man right off the bat. But you know a movie is good, when everything within the main bad bad character, you can find inside yourself, and you begin to root for the bad bad man to make it to his goal.
I was so deeply moved by the main character's struggle, his coping strategies , and of course our trademark Egyptian humor skill set, that is such a necessary tool. It carries everyone in this movie and this country past the pain and uphill climb that daily life presents to each of us at varying degrees . As a people, we Egyptians have a stubborn strain of patience, resilience and tenacity that comes across so strongly in the way this story is told.
It grabs you from the very beginning, and it's hard to guess the plot twists which keeps it exciting. To top it off the acting is so on point that you are invested in everyone's dilemma till the very end.
Filming, lighting, music and editing are top notch, and I applaud the actors at how they totally had me sold on every motivation they had to take the actions they had to take in the movie.
But most importantly this movie (especially if you are a thinker) will leave you feeling happy and guilty and maybe even wanting to do better in your own struggle at the very end. It's so damn funny too! Viewers in the cinema broke into applause in the end and I clapped spontaneously because that is what you feel you must do. I'm taking the kids for sure .. and I highly advise that you take your gang and go.
Bravo ! I hope this movie reaches as many human eyes as possible. I want to google the entire story in depth and find out where these people are now.
