Skip to main content
19B film image

19B

This event has passed

Canadian Premiere

In Cairo, a lonesome, impoverished elderly property guard whose name no one seems to remember (played by the distinguished Sayed Ragab) spends his days enjoying old-fashioned Egyptian hits on the radio, caring for stray cats and dogs, and watching over the same run-down villa he has been tending to for the past forty years, even though its affluent owners have vacated long ago. His peaceful, orderly little world is turned upside down when an opportunistic parking attendant newly released from prison, Nasr (Ahmed Khaled Saleh, in turns brutal and vulnerable) bullies his way into occupying the property– drawing our nameless protagonist’s fears and sorrows to the surface. With no recourse to seek help from the police, the old guard and his feisty daughter Yara (Nahed El Sebaï) take matters into their own hands. Anchored to the villa’s decaying splendor with a compellingly classical play-like story structure, this sixth feature from acclaimed writer-director Ahmad Abdalla (Décor) provides a keen reflection on class issues, fear, and isolation in modern Egypt.

 

Best Arab Film, Cinematography, International Critics’ Prize, Cairo Film Festival 2022

 

Community Partner

Director
Cast

Sayed Ragab, Ahmed Khaled Saleh and Nahed El Sebai, Fadwa Abed, Magdy Atwan, Maher Khamis

Credits
Country of Origin

Egypt

Year

2022

Series

Panorama

Language

In Arabic with English subtitles

18+
95 min
Award Winners Drama

Book Tickets

This event has passed.

Credits

Executive Producer

Yara Goubran

Screenwriter

Ahmad Abdalla

Cinematography

Mustafa El Kashef

Editor

Sara Abdallah

Original Music

Youssef Sadek

Director

Ahmad Abdalla headshot

Ahmad Abdalla

Ahmad Abdalla is a critically acclaimed and award-winning Egyptian filmmaker. He directed his first feature film, Heliopolis in 2009, followed by the award-winning film, Microphone, which was selected at the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) as one of the best 100 Arabic films in history, and toured several film festivals around the world, reaping more than 20 international awards. His film EXT/Night won the Best Film Award at the Malmo Arab Film Festival (MAFF), the Jury Award at the Luxor International Film Festival, alongside four other awards at the Egyptian National Film Festival. Abdalla was also selected as a jury member in a number of prestigious film festivals including the Carthage Film Festival in 2012, BFI London Film Festival in 2014, and Dubai International Film Festival in 2017.

Filmography: Heliopolis (2009); Microphone (2010); Rags and Tatters (2013); Décor (2014); Leil Khargi (2018)

Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre

Souleymane's Story

Dir. Boris Lojkine
92 min

Exhausted by the grueling grind of the Parisian gig economy and hopping between homeless shelters, Guinean immigrant Souleymane races against time to prepare for his asylum interview. An angry, tender film which is as gripping as any thriller.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

The Last Class

Dir. Elliot Kirschner
72 min

Economist and former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich embarks on what will be his last year teaching at Berkeley. What can he impart to the latest generation to inspire and empower them for the grievous challenges ahead?

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood

Dir. Quentin Tarantino
160 min

A film of luxuriant and sinister beauty, Tarantino's last movie to date is a rich and lovely immersion in the dying days of Old Hollywood, LA, 1969.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema

Last Breath

Dir. Costa-Gavras
100 min

At the age of 91 the revered filmmaker Costa-Gavras (Z) has made a gentle, curious, hopeful film about life on a palliative ward.

VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

The Balconettes

Dir. Noémie Merlant
105 min

In this flamboyant black comedy set in Marseille during a heatwave, writer-director-star Noémie Merlant and her two besties have to cover up the unpleasant evidence of a disastrous night partying with the hunk across the way.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre

Monk in Pieces

Dir. Billy Shebar & David C Roberts
95 min

A playful and engaging portrait of the avant-garde singer, composer, choreographer and performance artist Meredith Monk. Philip Glass, David Byrne and Bjork share their observations.

VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre