Dokkan Shehata

Khaled Youssef, the director that worked with Chahine since early 1990s, has do nothing but reproducing the famous work of Chaine which was released in early 1990s. Originally a biblical story, Khaled Youssef adopts the traditional narrative, acts, and symbols that Chahine used in his movie. Frankly I can't continue watching Khaled Youssef movies as my mind used to recall Chahine's movies during the watching. He always tries to be Chahine II, but unfortunately Chaine has gone without giving the keys of his talent to Khaled! Nowadays, Mr. Khaled said that his movie was a prophecy of Egyptian Revolution, I wonder how he said the comment, the end of his movie refers to the collapse of the Egyptian Society, not to his great revolution.

Let me say at once that Haifa Wehbe is a revelation in this film. She shone in her role at turns vampish, bewildered, attacked, loyal. I never realised what a fine actress she is.

This story of a shop bought after a lifetime of saving by a poor man is a microcosm of all that is wrong with tradition and morality in Egypt today. Jealousy, theft, underhand acts, internecine warfare within the family - all show up the deficiencies of modern Egypt that have been engendered by her dictators. The film is a salutary lesson and wake-up call to change, one that seemed to have succeeded with the ousting of Mubarak but reverted under the kleptocracy of Sisi. These external events make the film as relevant today as it was when it came out.

A definite recommend.