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6.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Sahib al saada remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have any interest in the roots of Egyptian cinema, yes, absolutely. But if you’re looking for a tight, modern-feeling script, you might find the pacing a bit… let’s say, leisurely.
Fans of classic, theater-style acting will love it. People who need constant jump cuts and high-stakes drama? You’ll probably hate it within ten minutes.
Watching Nagib El-Rihani is like watching a master class in nervous energy. He has this way of blinking and adjusting his collar that tells you exactly how much trouble he’s in before he even says a word. 🎭
There’s a specific scene involving a dinner table where he’s trying to be dignified while everything else is falling apart. It’s a total disaster, but you can’t look away.
It’s funny how much this feels like a filmed play. The sets feel like they could tip over if someone slammed a door too hard. It reminded me a bit of the stagey, trapped energy you see in movies like Princesse, à vos ordres!, where the environment is really just a box for the actors to bounce off of.
The whole thing feels like a time capsule. You get a real sense of the social hierarchies of the time, even if the movie is mostly just interested in poking fun at them. It’s not trying to be a deep sociological study, and that’s its saving grace.
I found myself wondering if they ever broke character during these long, winding takes. Some of the reactions from the supporting cast feel genuine, like they were just as surprised by El-Rihani’s antics as the characters were. 😅
It’s not a perfect movie. It drags in the middle. The humor isn't always subtle. But there's a warmth to it that you just don't get in modern comedies. It’s human, messy, and totally unpretentious.