El-Mashbooh

The Suspect (Al-Mashbouh) is one of the most underrated films ever. It has a very simple story that is reinforced by amazing performances by Soad Hosny, Adel Imam and Said Saleh. The music in the film is remarkable, very underrated too, if you watched the film just once before and hear the music anywhere, you would immediately recognize it. It's simply a classic 80s film and you can recognize (also enjoy) that from the set locations, sound editing, acting, directing and obviously the score.

I don't usually enjoy films from that era, but you can't hate this screen beauty. I totally recommend this film to any one born in the 90s or younger because the films in this era are totally erased from their minds.

I've loved all the characters of Adel Emam in his drama films, and aside from the writing quality of the characters or the plot which is essential, However I can't separate that from his existence and performance. And this requires more talk about these characters which mostly will apply to the main character of this film "Maher El Nemr"

A regular man with regular shape, looks like us and many people around us, filled with contradictions, but his important choices are emotionally moving, He's smart and adventurous, very loyal to the things he loves, He can see inside and beyond the things and people around him, He is in emotional and physical battles all the time, He wins and loses in different ways, but most importantly he moves on and continues his way, and that is the most inspiring aspect of this character.

The Suspect "Al-Mashboh" presents the character of "Maher El Nemr" in an appealing way, it shows many of the description mentioned earlier, and makes us take his side from the very beginning even knowing he is a thief. "Maher" makes an adventurous and bold choice yet it is very poetic, and that choice changes his life. Then the film puts an exponential pressure against that choice with the resistance of "Maher" and his new world from the other side, until the pressure reaches a peak that breaks him, "Maher" accepts that as he rediscovers himself and his family as they start all over again. I think this journey is a textbook example for a great story.

The film is well made and there is so much care about details that is very different than other films in the 80s. Souad Hosny was great and real, and the rest of the cast Saeid Saleh, Farouk El Feshawy, Naeima El Saghier, Fouad Ahmed and Aly El Sherif were excellent.

The soundtrack by "Hany Shenouda" is superb and all regards to "Samir Seif" for the directing of this beautiful film.