Yomeddine

Review by Genaro Aguilera-Reza

The Short:

Yomeddine (2018) it’s an Egyptian film that portrays the journey that a leprosy survivor and his young friend take in order to find the family who abandoned him.

The Long:

Yomeddine was Egypt’s submission for the Academy Awards’ Best Foreign Language Film. The film director, A.B. Shawky won the François Chalais Prize at Cannes Film Festival. This is a travel film that shows the beauty of Egypt’s countryside and gives a closer look at the realities that many Egyptians endure on a daily basis. The story centers around Beshay, a man cured of leprosy, and his young orphan friend nicknamed Obama. Forming an uncommon friendship, they both endure the difficulties, victories and adversities of life, all while trying to find a place for them to belong. 

To watch or not to watch:

Watch! At first it might seem like a depressing film, judging from the main character’s backgrounds, but in reality it has many funny moments and life lessons. Additionally, the cinematography shows Egypt’s fascinating countryside and gives an interesting perspective at the lives of the less fortunate.