Al Irhabi

Al Irhabi sketches the issues involved in religious fundamentalism in Egypt in a way that is occasionally acid and comic. The leading rôle of Ali Abd-El-Zaher is played by one of Egypt’s best-known comic actors, Adel El-Imam ( who has been seen in Rotterdam in e.g. Terrorism and Kebab). Ali is a merciless fighter for Islam and his leader Emir Seif does not tire of pointing out that all means are justified in the fight against the infidels. When he is knocked down by the daughter of a westernised family in her car, he is forced to stay in these alien surroundings for some time. A friend of the family turns out to be a liberal writer once the target of an attack by Ali.