El Batout started his career as a documentary maker, and this is also visible in his third fiction film. He shot the film at existing locations in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, worked with an amateur cast and did not use a script. The story of Hawi, supported by the Hubert Bals Fonds, came about in improvisation. The structure is not straightforward, more of an organic mosaic. With characters who are linked, without knowing that about each other or actually even ever meeting.
Youssef, Ibrahim and Fady spent 20 years in the same prison. Youssef has just been released in order to find several confidential documents. After 20 years, Ibrahim wants to see his daughter again. She is training with the musician Fady. Apart from that, there is an old horseman who hopes to cure his beloved red animal and a TV presenter who needs a guest for his show. They are all looking for someone or something in this kaleidoscopic portrait of loneliness and despair in today’s Egypt.
Film details
- Countries of production
- Egypt, Qatar
- Year
- 2010
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2011
- Length
- 112'
- Medium/Format
- 35mm
