my-server
← Wiki

Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo

Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo () is a 2024 drama film co-written and directed by Khaled Mansour in his directorial debut. A co-production between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

Plot

The film revolves around a young man named Hassan who faces the challenges of life in Cairo, and finds himself pursued after an accident involving his dog Rambo, which prompts him to search for a safe haven for his dog , According to the director the story of the film is based on a real incident that happened in 2015 in Giza, although the real story had a much darker ending.

Cast

  • as Hassan
  • Rakeen Saad as Asmaa
  • as Karem
  • Samma Ibrahim as Hassan's Mother

Production

The film was produced by Film Clinic. It marked the feature film debut of Mansour, following three short films he directed between 2015 and 2022.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti Extra sidebar. It was released in Egyptian cinemas on 1st January 2025.

Reception

The film was awarded the grand prize at the 2024 Red Sea International Film Festival.

Screen Internationals film critic Wendy Ide praised the film, describing it as "a quality picture that announces Mansour as a notable talent in Egyptian independent filmmaking", and wrote that "the theme [...] is hardly a new one. Still, this feature [...] impresses, bringing a distinctively gritty flavour to its vision of lives on the fringes of working class Cairo". Ali Benzekri from International Cinephile Society praised Mansour's "deliberate sobriety that grounds the film in an extreme realism" as well as Essam Omar's performance, that "places him firmly in the conversation about the future of Egyptian cinema, particularly for up-and-coming actors. His ability to convey profound emotional depth without relying heavily on dialogue speaks volumes about his range and presence on screen".

References

External links