Cultural Experience #37 An Egyptian Movie in Arabic

Two firsts just happened. One, I saw a movie in a movie theater in Arabic without subtitles. Two, I saw a movie in a movie theater by myself. Needless to say I am just a little confused.

The flick I saw was called Al-Raiess Omar Harb, and I think it translates to the president Omar Harb. But I have to go back further than the movie title to explain this event. It starts at the door. The ticket lady told me that the movie started at 9 p.m. I arrived at 8:50 because I didn’t want to miss the previews (those of you who know me know this). Instead of previews at 9 p.m., I got a dose of Egyptian. At the doors, which were unopened waited at least 50 people for the show. The more boisterous lads were up front while the women and respectable couples were further back. I, of course being early, was wedged up into the front. Everyone was carrying on waiting for the doors to be open. 9 o’clock passed. There was yelling and general fun going on until the door, yes singular, opened. There were seven other doors I counted. Then the tide began, I felt very similar to what a piece of dirt must feel as it is sucked down the drain after the tub water is let out: inevitability. The jostling and pushing began along with shouts of ‘enter! and ‘go!’ led by the age group dominated by teenagers.

I get inside at 9:12 and the movie starts at 9:30. I knew what I was in for, no subtitles and everything but I was excited. We saw some previews one in English the other Arabic, and then the movie started. It was confusing. The movie centered around a casino in Egypt led by a powerful man, didn’t catch his name, who runs a tight ship with its own particular set of ugly if you get mixed up in the wrong things. Several men did throughout the movie, again don’t know why or what for but several men were beaten, one guy got his hands chopped off, and another was hung (I think).

The main character was Khalid, a casino worker who did the roulette table. When he wasn’t having sex with the two alternating lead women (not at the same time), he was either being taken under the wing by the casino owner, possibly Omar Harb, or staring eyes bulging out in various scenes (fights between his two lovers, other women’s breasts, his boss’s threats. There was also a weird dream sequence too where he was running through the desert but being stopped by an old wooden gate. I think it was symbolizing his being trapped in his job in which people around him were being killed. The movie ended with all the main characters lining up in front of Khalid and the casino owner and Khalid accepting something, I think the next ownership role of the casino. The two drank champagne and were surrounded by celebrating people except Khalid and the girl he actually liked (one of the two) didn’t look happy. I pictured the end being like the Godfather where Michael Corlione is sitting at his father’s desk now in charge of the family not liking what he had become (if I remember correctly). My energy and focus waned after the entr’acte. My brain just got too tired trying to follow the Arabic.

Couple more tidbits. The girls on screen, especially his main love interest who I am guessing is famous, got catcalls and low whistles. There are also censor cards shown at the beginning of the previews and the movies to show that they have been screened by the censors. Lastly, Egyptian movie theaters are not quiet.

Overall it was a fun experience. I would probably do it again. It also only cost a little less than 3 dollars.