? AT THE MOVIES-

Vengeance is served raw in Dev Patel’s Monkey Man. The film is an action-packed and bloody ride following Kid (Dev Patel), a young man hellbent on getting revenge on the corrupt elite who killed his mother and continues to exploit and terrorize the powerless. Based on the Hindu legend of Hanuman, a half-human half-monkey warrior god that overcomes his oppressors, Kid unleashes a whirlwind of violence on those who wronged him and his loved ones.

Hollywood in the striking streets of India. There’s no shortage of action in Monkey Man. While some may find the violence excessive, the fight choreography is undeniably exceptional, a balletic display of raw power, adrenaline, and pure grit. The genre is dominated in Hollywood by Western heroes — your John Wicks and James Bonds, Jason Bournes, and Ethan Hunts — and seeing a different culture being portrayed on screen (and not just as a destination the hero has to jet off to) is refreshing.

Patel’s directorial debut shines a light on his promising future in the role. Patel has a keen eye for visual storytelling. The film uses flashbacks to reveal the protagonist’s tragic backstory. They are weaved in effectively for the most part, but sometimes feel clunky and awkwardly timed, disrupting the momentum of the main story. But his masterful adaptation of his original screenplay, produced alongside the legendary Jordan Peele, is a visually striking tour de force.

WHERE TO WATCH- Strap in for Monkey Man at Cairo Festival City, Golf City Cinema, and Madinaty Cinema. You can catch the trailer here (watch trailer, runtime: 3:16).

? FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, sheds light on the ugly truth behind the border crisis in the US. The narrative begins with the sudden intrusion of violence into the everyday life of a Mexican family, as a mother and son find themselves pushed into a harrowing ordeal amidst a deadly attack by a local drug cartel.

At the heart of the story is Lydia Quixano Pérez, the owner of a bookshop in Acapulco,whose life is upended when her husband's exposé on the notorious ‘The Owl’ cartel leads to a devastating massacre.

Lydia and her son, Luca, grapple with the aftermath of a brutal massacrethat claimed the lives of sixteen individuals,including Lydia’s husband. Fleeing for their lives Lydia decides to disguise herself and her son as migrants and embark on a perilous journey to America. Along the way, they encounter a cast of characters and navigate treacherous landscapes, all while evading the relentless pursuit of the cartel.

It shines a spotlight on the plight of migrants while grappling with the moral complexities of privilege and responsibility. Overall the novel offers a timely exploration of the human cost of violence and displacement in a world rife with injustice.

You can find it at Bookworm.

? HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Indulge in a Western take on Levantine cuisine at Jouri. Located at Golf Central in Palm Hills, this is the restaurant’s second branch, the first being all the way in Paris, France. They even have an optional chef’s table where you can watch renowned 3 Michelin star Chef, Mohamed El Khaldi, prepare his culinary excellence.

Can we talk about the decor? The interior of Jouri is delicately designed with comfortable, yet sophisticated, modern pieces and welcoming vibrant colors. Look out for the seating arrangements and lighting placements that have been curated to display elements of the jouri flower and the restaurant’s logo, as Chef Khaldi pointed out to us. The restaurant is spacious both indoors and outdoors and has available lounge seating, if you’re planning on getting comfy.

Jouri’s menu is a culinary passport, as they describe it on their website. You can have the classic Lebanese-style dishes or try out their culturally combined options. The star of our meal was definitely the steak with tout shami which was a tender steak drenched in berry sauce on a bed of spiced fereek, a true fusion of sweet and sour. We also had hummus with pesto topped with green apple, which we found quite interesting.

? Per person: EGP 500-1000

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes

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