The Puppeteer (, translit. Al-aragoz) is a 1989 Egyptian film starring Omar Sharif and Mervat Amin. Written by Essam El-Shamaa, directed and co-written by Hani Lasheen, the film is set in rural Egypt, where Omar Sharif plays the role of a puppeteer, who faces challenges with his son.
Mohamed Gad El-Karim works as a puppeteer and believes this profession is wonderful, raising people's awareness. He considers his role no less important than that of any other person. He has a son, Bahloul, whom he educated until he graduated from university. However, Bahloul has always been different from his father; he wants to achieve things quickly. This ambitious nature of his father's work clashed with that of a businessman, Kamel El-Kassabani, who was born in the same hometown. Mohamed Gad El-Karim wanted to work for him, and he agreed. He then became close to his daughter, and she fell in love with him and married him. Kamel El-Kassabani wanted to develop a large tourism project on the farmland, and the puppeteer, Mohamed Gad El-Karim stood against his son, Bahloul, who supported the businessman. However, Mohamed Gad El-Karim's projects failed due to the promises and hopes that Bahloul made to the poor people of his village. Kamel El-Kassabani discovered that his son-in-law was planning to take over the project and enter the council in his place. He confronted him, but Bahloul threatened him with his daughter, so he yielded. However, he sent one of his men to kill Bahloul, but the bullet struck the puppeteer's pregnant wife, Inaam, who gave birth to a new child for Mohamed Gad El-Karim, while she died. He was left alone once again and tried to raise and correct his young son. Mohamed Gad El-Karim made many mistakes regarding his son Bahloul.