Room to Rent

We enjoyed this film from start to finish - it is charming, funny and interesting.

Fine actors such as Rupert Graves and Anna Massey provide excellent support for the talented Said Taghmaoui who plays the lead.

The plot is a little predictable, but no real harm in that. Issues around economic migration and the way women are treated in our society are given a light touch but are respectably covered. This film does not have the depth of Dirty Pretty Things, for example, but does not set out to have that depth.

The early sequence filmed at night along the Edgware Road in London really captured the bright lights and chaos of the neighbourhood. Do try the shawarmas in Maroush/Ranoush if you get the chance to make a pilgrimage there, by the way. They are the best to be had outside the Middle East.

Great fun, see it and enjoy.

This movie could in some ways qualify to be a farce, though it's not quite Monty Python. The story is about a hapless writer/student/waiter from Egypt trying desperately to stay in England, and all of the schemes he gets into to try to stay. The situations he gets into are unbelievable (that's why I think this movie should be considered a farce), but always entertaining.

BTW, if you liked this movie you might also like the film, The Guru. The Guru however is not quite as likeable as this film.

The adage is "write what you know" and so Al-Haggar writes about an Egyptian screenwriter who lived in London. However, he allows his imagination to take Room to Rent in a different bizarre direction to his life story.

Unfortunately his imagination isn't always teamed with logic. I didn't believe any of the story contrivances and the last twist is simply impossible - even if you accept re-incarnation really happens.

And yet strangely I was swept along and never annoyed. This is due to the believable characters, good dialogue and a valiant attempt to avoid cliché.

This isn't at first glance a formula film but Al-Haggar hits all the right structural points at the right times ensuring excellent pacing.

While the plotting is never convincing it is however always entertaining.

Simply a ride!, hilarious never ending twist after another of a script, a lot of brilliant edit cuts, great acting, and above all obviously a top notch director who scores high when its about humor in film.

You will never guess where this story will take you the next second and its always while you are laughing on that the next twist comes and its always as un-imaginable and un-believable as you can... well... can not think of! yet very well paced and written and very truly delivered from the actors that you accept it willingly if not lovingly. Then you get addicted to the ride! Addicted to the point that you would not want it to end without a major meaning to the whole ride as if it is your own! It is truly very entertaining and engaging in a whole different sense if not "Genre" if I may say.

The script carries you from one twist to another with a very special sense of humor present almost in every scene that really grows on you by the end! Khaled El Hagar (the writer/director) comes up with a last twist that is of course un-expected as you can expect after going through this ride with him! Could not help think he could be a re-encarnated Great Director! trying to tell us that in his own very personal classic non cliche smart and witty way!

A MUST FOR MOVIE LOVERS.

for the first time a movie that talk about Arabians and Egyptians specifically without making them barbaric nor ignorant. Although (Taghmaoui) is not Egyptian but his perfomnance was magnificent. The same with (Juliette lewis) who made (Marelin Monro) scenes with all her senses. (Khaled El-Hagar) is unbelievely talented in making every scene so every body could feel the movie as if it is his story even if he didnt pass with the same setiuations. The script by (El-hagar) & (Amanda Stewart) was gorgeous because it made the movie very near and close to and thus entertaining for arabians, & very new for non-Arabians by making them exploding new horizons. Other thing was choosing the using ancient Egyptian myths at the end of the film although non realstic. Generally magnificent. Thumbs up.