Yousry Nasrallah Movies

Egyptian director Yousry Nasrallah and screenwriter Waheed Hamed joined forces for this provocative story of the nexus between sex, politics and culture in the modern-day Middle East. Hebba (Mona Zakki) is a host of a television talk show that specializes in digging into the corruption that permeates Egyptian politics. While the show is well regarded, its success has been causing problems for Hebba's husband Karim (Hassan El Raddad), who edits a newspaper controlled by the government. Karim's bosses have urged him to get Hebba to change the focus of her show or else they might pull the plug on his journal, and eventually Hebba agrees. Instead, Hebba presents a series of broadcasts in which women from several walks of life talk about how sex and gender roles have impacted their lives. Amany (Sawsan Badr) is a middle-aged woman who as a girl promised herself she would marry only for love and not out of security or convenience. Amany has stayed true to her pledge, even though it means she's still single, but she finds herself balancing her loneliness and sexual frustration against the desire of her latest suitor, Ahmed (Hussein El Imam), to let him control their relationship. Nahed (Sanaa Akroud) is a successful dentist who made it clear to her boyfriend Adham (Mahmoud Hemeida) that she wouldn't sleep with him until they were married. Adham respected her feelings, but once they were wed, Nahed watched his attitude towards her change drastically. And Safaa (Rihab El Gamal) is a convicted murderer who, after serving her time, takes control of a shop run by her late father with the help of her sisters (Nesrine Amin and Nahed El Sebai). The sisters find that while customers will give them their business, they need a male figurehead for many of their dealings, and the sisters debate the notion of one of them marrying Said (Mohamed Ramadan), a longtime family employee. However, Said has been romancing all three sisters, while swearing each of them to secrecy. Ehky Ya Schahrazad (aka Scheherazade, Tell Me a Story) was an official selection at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The hostess of a nighttime radio call-in show crosses paths with a private clinic employee who moonlights at a shady abortion clinic in this Cairo-based drama from director Yousry Nasrallah. The Cairo snow falling gently outside her studio, radio hostess Laila counsels listeners on problems relating to their love lives. Laila's program is popular because bored listeners can live vicariously through the sordid tales of others, and local anaesthetist Youssef rarely misses a show. By day Youssef works at a reputable private clinic, but by night he supplements his income by giving illegal abortions. Youssef's father is dying of cancer, and Laila's program provides the only bit of enjoyment that the man's harried son finds in a typical day. One day son, Youssef and Laila's paths will cross for the very first time. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

After making a living by providing English subtitle translation to numerous French films, American filmmaker Andrew Litvack makes his debut as a writer/director with the Merchant Ivory production Merci Docteur Rey. Set in Paris, this farcical comedy involves the troubles of young gay man Thomas (Stanislas Merhar). First his opera diva mother, Elisabeth (Dianne Wiest), comes for a visit and she doesn't know he's gay. When he accepts a blind date with someone from an online chat room, he ends up witnessing a murder and possibly discovering the identity of his real father. Eventually he ends up telling his story to a therapist, who is instead replaced by unstable voice-over actress Penelope (Jane Birkin). Also includes cameo appearances by Vanessa Redgrave, Simon Callow, Bulle Ogier, and Jerry Hall. Merci Docteur Rey was shown at the 2002 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Yasser is a young man who along with his family deals with the social changes implemented by Abdul Nasser. When he believes his family may be out of money, he vows to become like Robin Hood and steal from the rich. Leil is a peasant boy he recruits to help in his mischievous adventures. His Aunt Mona is courted by a Nasser aid, and his cousin Dahlia's romance with a soldier ends because he is lower class. The feature serves up an excellent slice of life representative of 1961 Egypt. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi