#GAWWEZNI
Cert TBA
120 mins
BBFC advice: TBA
Egyptian films are like buses - I can't recall the last time I saw one and yet, on three-film Thursday, we saw two in a day.
First up at Leeds/Bradford Odeon, Mrs W and I had the screen to ourselves for the comedy #Gawwezni, starring Amir El Masry and Mayan El Sayed.
The former plays Fares - a handsome well-known DJ who can't stop attracting women.
But his heart only flutters for Lily (El Sayed), a girl who has entranced him since he was a little boy.
However, he is pursued by an older woman who consults a witch doctor to lay a curse that means every time he says he loves someone, they will marry someone else immediately.
Thus, when he finally gets a chance to find romance with Lily, he can't express his true feelings.
There are several amusing tangents during Mohamed Bedir and Essam Nassar's film as Fares uses the curse to help people who are struggling to find a partner.
This also has implications for his nearest and dearest, including his widowed mum, lovelorn neighbours and his best friend.
But the thrust of the film is the will they, won't they saga between Fares and Lily.
#Gawwezni is a lighthearted farce which is rather too convoluted for our taste and its ending is way too rushed but it gave us a rare insight into Egyptian cinema.
Reasons to watch: Lighthearted farce
Reasons to avoid: Not much substance
Laughs: A couple of chuckles
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5.5/10
Did you know? Amir El Masry has had success in Britain, winning a Scottish BAFTA for his performance in the film Limbo (2020) for which he was nominated for a British Independent Film Award. He was also named a 2020 BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and a 2021 Screen International Star of Tomorrow.
The final word. Mayan El Sayed: “ I got excited about the film after I learned that Amir El Masry is part of it because I love Amir and because my role in the film combines comedy and romance. "
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