User reviews

When I was a child, I thought that this movie was a kind of comedy.. but it appears to be telling the real life of how Egyptians live and what are the differences between them and the other developing countries. Which turned that smiling face into a non-reaction one.

Everyone is talking about the movie from the cinematic face, but none of them saw the real impact of this movie among Egyptian people, everyone believes that this movie was one of the major reasons that made the revolution of 25th January 2011, the obvious contrast in dealing with people whether they are Egyptian citizens or foreign tourists that was shown to people made people realise that they have a lot of lost rights, though there is a heartwarming vibe about Egypt and Egyptian family which inspired them to the title of the movie (Asal Eswed) which means dark honey or (Bittersweet) and that reflects the massage of the movie.

I've been watching this movie since I was back home in Iraq, now I'm in the US and relate so much to it. Hilarious, and heartwarming!

I saw this the first time by accident at a movie theater that had both English and Arabic language movies while in Doha. Because they always had trailers in both languages, I was kind of into the movie before I realized it wasn't a trailer and I was enjoying it and understood what was happening even though I only had "cab ride" level Arabic. I was able to follow the entire movie with no issue and it made me love Egypt a little bit more. I later saw it with an Arabic speaking family who answered a few questions, but it turned out that I had the entire plot down pretty well already. I would definitely watch this again and again if I could. I saw it a few weeks before the revolution. My Arabic students and friends clued me into the Egypt that tourists won't ever understand. Soon after the drama, I moved to Egypt for 6 months and came to love the place more deeply. The govt is again a hot mess (not unlike my own!) but the people are funny and sweet and hardworking and good. I think the movie shows the spirit of Masri people. Good, bad, and struggling to make the best of whatever their circumstances are.

We attended Asal Eswed at a Maadi movie house around June 2010. I will never forget that the large audience watched attentively, laughed unanimously and behaved in an unusually mature way for local cinema goers. The film addresses real issues in an honest and refreshing way and is very funny and poignant also. As it preceded the revolution by about six months, it was in my mind later on that this film was one of the first signs that we were looking at a time of change in Egypt, so badly needed.

My 95 year old mother stood and wept at the end of the movie and declared that whoever made this film deserved a prize. I have watched this film several times and never tire of it, it is a classic, I believe, very relevant to us Egyptians and deeply meaningful. The traffic scene is wonderfully evocative of Egypt, as are many cameo moments, for example with the cassette/GPS repair man. The moment when the Egyptian passport is catapulted out of a hotel window is inspirational !

The film expresses the deep longings and frustrations of Egyptians desiring a freer happier life for themselves. Thank you Ahmed Helmy for this superb sincere film.

I like the every single dialogue in the film. It's so funny and real

When I was a child, I thought it was a comedy film but when I growed up I saw it many times and I understood what did the director want to tell us as this is the life in Egypt you have to be in contact with very important people to get your rights so this film is great.

One of the tops!

Ahmed helmy nailed this movie, every time we get the chance to watch a family movie we choose this one.

A lovely, sweet and heartfelt movie that you will love to share with a family.

The sound tracks are amazing. Always gets me.

Recommend!!

The movie only tries to make us laugh with very lazy jokes. I mean one can laugh but if he only doesn't think. It tries to demonstrate fake, wrong and non-real facts about US culture, like how the main character is shocked when he sees someone throw a plastic bag in the street! Like they don't do that in the US? Also making fun of people's pronunciation almost every scene?? And the movie's plot that he found peace that can't be found anywhere is also too lazy!! Ironically Ahmed Helmy after the movie traveled with his wife when she was pregnant to the US so that their son to be a US citizen. The movie is too much overrated. The jokes, the scenario and the plot all are awful.

I love how funny and real this movie is. the perfect movie to watch in a family gathering on a weekend.

Great movie, it's absolutely fantastic. Not only is it realistic, nostalgic and funny, the jokes in this movie are one of the best they never make me stop laughing no matter how much i have heard them, but that doesn't take away from serious topics in the movie because it also has great meaning behind every scene or shot. The cast and actors did theirs part alright, from clean and beautiful shots to wonderful acting, the movie has deep meaning behind most characters and great life advice and quotes. Favorite Egyptian movie and the best Egyptian movie to be made in my opinion, the movie reflects how living in Egypt is like for someone who lived in a first world country their whole life, it shows that even if we live in different environments and cultures we are all the same humans. I absolutely adore this masterpiece.