📽 AT THE MOVIES-

Wesh fe Wesh is what happens when the in-laws get involved in a marital squabble . When an argument over moving houses between Sherif (Mohamed Mamdouh) and Dalia (Amina Khalil) is overheard by Dalia’s haughty mother, she gets involved — with her husband and son— to accuse Sherif of potentially abusing her daughter. Seeing this happen, Sherif summons his misfit friends, along with his parents, for a standoff that makes a mountain out of a molehill. Whether the two protagonists are going to resolve their differences or not becomes a side issue, as the ensuing comedy places the focus on the next misstep that will derail things further.

The script is sharp, witty, and the slapstick humor on point,which — although Egyptian films can fall short in these areas — doesn’t come as a surprise as director Walid El Helafawi is both script writer as he is behind the camera. The ensemble cast’s chemistry also works well for the delivery of the script, considering the majority of them worked together previously — although this is a double-edged sword considering the premise and actor combinations can come off as repetitive. Amina Khalil and Mohamed Mamdouh starring in another film together revolving around a couple looking for a divorce is reminiscent of Karim El Shenawy’s Khali Baalak min Zizi(2021) and The Seven Year Itch(2023), which may feel repetitive and off-putting for some.

Honorable mentions: Guest stars Khaled El Sawy and Lotfi Labib had the audience in stitches: They played the role of each sides’ lawyer, defending their respective clients completely off of Facetime from different iPads. Meanwhile, comedian Mahmoud Ellithy and up and coming actress Dina Sami offer even more comedic relief as the domestic help that observes this family of “decent people” deteriorate to wild beasts. The film also hit a relatable but funny note by having the in-laws using El Face as the ultimate battle ground of the wits, a weapon regularly employed by their generation to voice their woes and frustrations.

Many relationships are in focus — both friendships and marriages: We see this through the marriage of Dalia’s parents, Nana (Anoushka) Mohab (Samy Maghawri), an upper class family who had an early arranged marriage and now are just barely getting by financially, despite their appearance of wealth. On the other hand, Aziz (Bayoumi Foad) and Zeinab (Salwa Mohamed Ali), who seem to be upper middle class and cannot accept their son being blamed for something they are certain he has not done. The smaller groups, like Sherif’s friends, Wael (Mohamed Shahin), Magdy (Khaled Kamal) and his brother-in-law, Selim (Ahmed Khaled Saleh) offer comic relief as they try to let off some steam from this difficult situation by playing a game of Fifa on the Playstation together, despite being on the opposite sides of the argument. Finally, Dalia and Salma’s (Asmaa Galal) friendship that nearly reaches breaking point but comes together towards the film’s conclusion.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can catch the film in VOX theaters in City Centre Almaza and Mall of Egypt.

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Meg Mason’s Sorrow and Bliss follows the story of Martha, whose disintegrated marriage leads her to think back on their eight years together with an interesting mix of humor and darkness. But beyond the witticisms and humor, Martha is acutely aware something is wrong with her — maybe not forever, but at least since the age of seventeen — a fact that her husband, Patrick, has been denying, or at the very least overlooking throughout the decades they have known each other. But Martha’s not wrong.

Although the name of her condition is not mentioned, we learn that the narrator suffers from a debilitating mental illness, with a range of symptoms described, from not being able to get out of bed for weeks at a time to being denied children because of the side effects her medication would have on her pregnancy. But despite the limiting boundaries of her condition, Martha’s personality is able to shine through. She is funny, highly intelligent, and simply fierce. And when, at 40 years old, Patrick leaves her and she returns to live with her parents, she must confront the reality of who she is and the years that have gone by. The novel has been hailed as unforgettable by some and unsettling by others, but the fact remains that the writing is brilliant and the book is certainly worth a read.

WHERE TO FIND IT- The novel, which is shortlisted for the women’s prize for fiction, is available in all Diwan branches.

🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Sneak in a laid back but intimate date night with a view of the sea at Yanni’s: Located on the roof of the Diplo 3 clubhouse, Yanni’s is an authentic Greek restaurant inspired by the founder’s (John, or Yanni) Greek heritage — specifically his grandparents. The restaurant brings a cozy ambience and decor that are reminiscent of Greek island life (without trying too hard to be Mykonos in Egypt).

The dips and starters all hit the spot: We opted for htipiti (spicy roasted red pepper and feta dip) and skordalia (potato-based garlic dip), as well as sapanakopitakia(filo pastry triangles with spinach and feta cheese), dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), and a classic Greek salad to get started. The portions were generous (the four starters, along with their delicious freshly baked pita bread, were enough for four people to share) and each dish stood out as enjoyable in its own right.

The entrées, however, fell a little short, mostly because the quality was inconsistent: Among our group, half of the gyro wraps were delicious with the perfect balance between the chicken or beef, fries, and tzatziki sauce, while the other half had surprisingly dry meat. The sea bream fish, meanwhile, was perfectly flaky and tender, but a little bit on the under-seasoned side for our liking — although the vegetables served on the side made up for anything the main star was lacking.

Pro tip: If you really want to go all in with the Greek cuisine experience, try Yanni’s slow-roasted leg of lamb. The special menu item (named Arnaki Kleftiko) is made to feed a crowd — but you’ll need to place your order at least two days in advance.

💵 Per person: 700-1200 per person

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🥦 Vegetarian/ vegan: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: Yes

🦽 Accessibility friendly: No

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