Hot take: Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim

‘Ali, the Goat and Ibrahim’ ('Ali Mizah wa Ibrahim') is a story about two young men battling their inner demons who happen to cross paths and form an unlikely friendship. Myth and reality intertwine in the grimy bylanes of Cairo, where social oppression hangs heavily like a cloud above the proceedings. Mercifully, director Sherin el Bendary keeps the focus resolutely on Ali (Ali Subhy)—who believes his goat has a soul—and Ibrahim (Ahmed Magdy)—who suffers from debilitating hyperacusis, hearing sounds at unbearable frequencies. The first half provides some solid comedy, but as the film moves on, turning into a road trip taking us from Cairo to Alexandria to Sinai, the friendship between the extroverted Ali and depressive Ibrahim deepens and reveals unexpected layers and insights. The cinematography is gorgeous, framing confined spaces and expansive deserts with keen detail and bathing everything in a warm glow. Surreal sequences abound with symbolism but merge seamlessly with deeply realist scenes, adding up to an unassuming fable about self-acceptance and the healing power of contact, both human and animal.

Genre: Drama, Fantasy

Language: Arabic

Runtime: 1h 38min

Year of release: 2016

Streaming Platform: N/A

Hot take is a series in which I offer my first impressions of films from India and around the world.