? AT THE MOVIES-

Action, comedy, and … fireworks? Amr Salama’sShamareekh (watch trailer, runtime: 1:57), which debuted at the Red Sea Film Festival, has proven to be another of the director’s hit films.

It opens with Raouf (Asser Yassin), the illegitimate son of a heartless Egyptian arms dealer involved in a lot of sketchy business. He lives his life doing his father’s bidding hoping to one day graduate from illegitimate child to true son. His brother, played by Adam Elsharkawy, is his spoiled, ruthless half-brother who ends up being his biggest obstacle to winning their father’s acceptance.

Then his cold, cold heart gets softened by an unlikely love interest. As an expert assassin, Raouf is sent to kill a hotshot lawyer who has dirt on the illegal arms business. But the lawyer’s daughter Amina (Amina Khalil), steps into the equation and brings out his soft side. The unlikely pairing team up when they realize they need each other, but little does Amina know, Raouf has a lot to hide.

What ensues is a lot of action, where somehow none of the hundreds of bullets being fired at the heroes does any damage, and of course, a love story brews. Despite the sometimes cheesy action, where one guy can take down twenty others without a weapon, the movie has a lot to show for itself. The chemistry between Khalil and Yassin was palatable and really sold the narrative of fugitives finding comfort in each other.

What really took the cake were the random bouts of humor. We expected nothing less with cameos from Mohamed Tharwat and Taha Desouky, which provided some needed comic relief amidst intense action scenes. There were even a few quips by the ever so grim Raouf that had the whole cinema laughing.

But at its core, the movie is about seeking acceptance and a sense of identity. We realize that these two characters have more in common than they think. What actually brings Amina and Raouf together isn’t the danger they’ve found themselves in, but their shared troubles. Amina was a hardworking lawyer with no social life who sought out the approval of her father. Raouf, born out of wedlock, and having lost his mother, was seeking family and belonging. That’s the beauty of the story. Don’t get us wrong, the plot had a lot of potential, but that was our take away from the film.

You can watch Shamareekh in theaters at El Bandar, Galaxy Cineplex Maadi, Citystars Cinema, CFC, Galleria Mall, Sea Cinema Arabella, and VOX Almazaor Mall of Egypt.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Klara and the Sun is a compassionate look at AI. Kazuo Ishiguro’s eighth novel is told through the eyes of Klara, a humanoid machine designed to be an Artificial Friend. Artificial Friends aren’t tutors or babysitters or servants.

They’re — as they’re named — just friends. And Klara has been sitting in the store waiting to fulfill her destiny, hoping to be chosen. Klara is displayed in the storefront where she can soak up the solar energy she runs on, and spends her time watching.

Klara’s emotional intelligence makes her almost human, but it’s also what reminds us that she isn’t. She spends her days watching people pass by and analyzing their lives with astonishing accuracy that reminds us that she has access to knowledge we don’t have. But the information she collects isn’t used maliciously, and doesn’t teach her contempt for humankind — it teaches her compassion.

While Klara and the Sun paints a picture of the unnervingly near future of inescapable presence and influence of AI, Ishiguro quietly and convincingly picks a side in the age-old debate of whether or not machines have the power to feel emotions.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Klara and the Sun is available in Diwan Bookstores.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Dickey’s delivers a genuine bbq pit experience…minus, the erm, smoke, and fanning of the fires. Located in City Center Almaza, the restaurant offers a wide selection of barbequed meat, lamb, and chicken meals and items.

Kid-approved. A top requirement nowadays, their Lil Mac Stack satisfied hungry toddlers as they grabbed their spiraled pasta topped with soft, finely chopped brisket pieces and slathered in cheese sauce that made the food easy to go down.

The jacket potatoes are the bomb. Despite its unappealing appearance, the tubers, which look like they’ve been cooked in charcoal, taste distinctly different from their microwaved cousins. They were also a surprise hit, as they accompanied the main course and certainly complimented it.

Their two-meat plate gives variety. With two-three slices of brisket and chicken plates, you can try a bit of both worlds. The brisket was soft, but not buttery, but did join the clean-plate club. The chicken slices were relatively thin but it was nicely marinated. And of course, the accompanying potato was, well, we are sure you know by now…

NOTE-Don’t take any appetizers home. We couldn’t finish our first orders and discovered a soggy mess when we unpacked them at home. Best to eat them while they are hot and fresh at the restaurant, or as soon as they arrive if you order them to your residence.

? Per person: EGP 300-500

? Outdoor seating: No

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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