? Trying to fit a lifetime into Six Days. Animated by an iconic lyric by singer Warda — “and what have the years done to us?” — this directorial debut by Karim Shaaban offers a meditation on the passage of time, as the film’s characters see the changes that impact them and the world around them over the course of a lifetime.

The story revolves around two main protagonists: Youssef (Ahmed Malek) and Alia (Aya Samaha) are childhood neighbors and close friends, bonded by their shared love for cinema, long walks, and spending time together. Their paths diverge when Alia and her family are forced to move suddenly from their old neighborhood in Manial to 6th of October City, resulting in them drifting apart.

Seven years later, Youssef and Alia meet by chance and decide to schedule a meetup on the same day each year. Over the course of twelve years, the pair meets only six times, discovering with each encounter how life has changed them.

The streets of Cairo play a pivotal role in the film, both as a reservoir for memories and meanings for the characters. The attention to detail in capturing each time period — from 2006 to the present — is notable, reflecting the subtle societal changes over the years in a way that resonates deeply with a generational nostalgia for the past.

The film succeeds on two fronts — pacing and execution. The film is never monotonous despite its focus on only two characters, with the audience remaining engaged throughout each sequence. Yet despite its many touching moments, the film occasionally suffers from lack of depth in dialogue and a number of plot gaps that affect how realistic certain events are — reminding us of fellow drama One Day.

WHERE TO WATCH- Watch Six Days at VOX Cinemas at City Centre Almaza and Mall of Egypt, City Stars, Point 90, Cairo Festival City Cinema, and Cima Arkan. You can also watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 1:52).

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