? AT THE MOVIES-

Maksoom (trailer, runtime: 2:08) is an ensemble comedy Egyptian film that will leave you with a skip to your step and a newfound appreciation for your friends. Film director Abu (Amr Wahba) and assistant director Tara (Sarah Abdelrahman) discover that they need to bring back 90s girl band Amici to make their film a success, which is easier said than done, as the band broke up 30 years ago on rather unfriendly terms.

The three best friends, Amy (Shereen Reda), Hend (Laila Elwy), and Rania (Samaa Ibrahem) ended their friendship with a fight, and each of them evolved in their own lives: Amy trying to fight old age with Botox, Hend looking for love (more often than not in the wrong places) and Rania slaving away to the life of grandmother devoid of music and joy. When they each receive a call to come back together for one performance, their initial resistance fades as their love for each other and music (of course) thaws the frigidity between them…

…but not without a fight, or three, of course. The confrontations between them range from hilarious to moving and have often had us teary-eyed. Look for a rehearsal that ends up with them being sent to the slammer or the showdown between them and Medhat (Sayed Ragab) who tries to break them apart.

Plenty of well-known faces add flair to the film…Mohamed Mamdouh, Mohamed Shahin, and even screenwriter Tamer Habib (Grand Hotel, Sahar El Layali), and, director Hani Khalifa (Sahar El Layali, Layali Eugenie) stood in front of the screen adding charm through their characters. A particular shout out to Khalifa, whose performance played off Elwy’s role beautifully.

The film is aesthetically pleasing and the chemistry between the divas is on point, thanks to the production team which includes Kawthar Younis in the director’s chair who truly extended the sacredness of female friendship, Karim El-Shennawy (director of Harsha El Sab’a, Khali Baalak min Zizi) and scriptwriter Haitham Dabour (scriptwriter Photocopy, Wa’fet Regala), and cinematographer Ahmed Yousef (Ehky ya Shahrazad, Elaka Maashroua) as producers who pieced together a film that celebrates the love of friendship, music, and life.

You can catch the film at VOX Cinemas, Arkan Cinema, Golden Stars Cinema in City Stars, and Zamalek Cinema.

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

The Happy Brain: Unraveling the Science of Happiness” by the neurologist and the comedian Dean Burnett. The book tackles fundamental questions about happiness, such as its origins and why it holds such importance for us.

Burnett combines cutting-edge theories of the science of emotions with interviews featuring a diverse range of individuals, from leading scientists to millionaires. Through these conversations, he seeks to unravel the complexities of happiness and uncover what truly impacts our sense of well-being.

Throughout the book, Burnett explores the connection between happiness and the brain, shedding light on the neurological processes that underlie our emotional experiences. Also, the book taps into several topics including stability, work, friendships, love, nature, and privacy. It’s a stimulating and thought-provoking book that has a unique blend of expertise, wit, and relatability to the topic.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find hard copies of Happy Brain in Diwan bookstore, and Shoroukbookstore, and you can find it online on Amazon.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Balad El Gharieb call themselves the kings of shrimp, and so far, they’re living up to the title.If you ask someone to recommend a seafood restaurant and they point you to this place, we suggest you pay them a consulting fee as a thank you. You don’t have to do the same for us — this one’s on the house.

The must-orders are shrimp, shrimp, and more shrimp. There’s no shortage of shrimp variations to try. The classics are there for those looking for a hearty meal, and there are a few new spins on the crustacean that are worth the stomach space.

Our favorite is the classic fried shrimp sandwich in baladi bread. The delicious breaded shrimp is served on a bed of mouthwatering tahini and rocca inside a soft piece of baladi bread. It comes with a couple of fresh green chili peppers and half a lemon, so you can season it to taste.

If you’re feeling adventurous: This may be a love-it-or-hate-it order, but it’s a combo worth trying. One of their cold-cut specialty sandwiches is the Big Shrimp Smoked Tasty. This comes with crispy shrimp (duh), smokey big tasty-esque sauce, pickled cucumbers, and the pièce de résistance, salami.

Wanna skip the cutlery?Get the shrimp butter lemon. Is it a shrimp meal if you don’t dig in manually? We don’t think so. Neither does Balad El Gharieb — you’ll find a pair of gloves with your order. The butter lemon is a reliably delicious pick, but if you’re feeling more adventurous, why not try the shrimp tandoori or the shrimp fajitas? These ten-piece meals come with a side of rice to round the dish out.

We’re not huge fans of shrimp in a bun, but this sandwich changed our minds. It was the caramelized onion that won us over. The soft bun hosts a healthy serving of shrimp slathered in Thousand Island dressing, topped with lettuce and cheddar sauce. It’s surprisingly filling, so share it with a friend if you’re interested in trying other dishes.

If you’re ordering these to go, keep an eye out for spillage. It happens to the best of us, and Balad El Gharieb is no different. We suggest eating these hot out of the kitchen anyway for maximum freshness and crunch, but the restaurant has four branches all over Cairo, and will more than likely deliver to wherever you are.

? Per person: EGP 200-400

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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