The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Featured image via YouTube

In 2017, Egyptian journalist and scriptwriter Haitham Dabbour announced that he wanted to create a film which centres around a love story between an old man and old woman. He wanted to do this because representations of old-age love stories were rare and scarce in Egyptian cinema. Thus, the film Photocopy was created, starring Sherine Reda and Mahmoud Hemida, and directed by Tamer Ashry. The film went on to win the El Gouna Golden Star Award for Best Arabic Feature Narrative Film at El Gouna Film Festival.

Dabbour and Ashry then decided to join forces again, and create a film titled Matlash An El Hajib; the film’s title is borrowed from an Egyptian proverb which essentially means “Stay in your lane, and know your limits”. Note that the film’s name in English is officially ‘Eyebrows’. The 21-minute feature stars Asmaa Abul Yazid, Mariam El-Koshet, and Ali El Tayeb.

The film’s description reads as follows: “”What is the one thing you wish was not forbidden?” Aiesha posts the controversial question in a closed Facebook group for her burqa-wearing peers. Aiesha, who is nicknamed among her peers as the fair eyed haori, meets her friend Sally at the mall shortly after the post. Under her burka, she hides more than her body and face, and during the seemingly ordinary shopping trip, she discovers that what she hates most about her life lays right over her eyes.”

This short movie will participate in the 2019 Festival Of African, Asian, And Latin American Cinema, which will be held between the 23rd and 31st of March. The film will also participate in several other film festivals, including Middle East Now (held in Italy), San Sebastian International Film Festival, Geneva International Film Festival, and Tripoli Film Festival (held in Lebanon).

Here’s to many awards, and international accolades!