A wedding promise becomes a poverty trap in 1965 Cairo — and dignity has a price.
When Mafouz dies, his partner Diab seizes his share, which leaves Mahfouz's family living in poverty. Gawdat, Zahra's fiancé, sleeps with her after she surrenders in the hope that they will get married quickly, but his mother forces him to leave Zahra after their financial situation deteriorates.
Acting
Amina Rizk's maternal desperation anchors every scene
Production
Cairo poverty rendered in stark black-and-white intimacy
Director
Galal El Sharkawy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Nasser's socialist era, the film critiques class inequality while operating under state censorship — its very existence required political navigation.
Zizi El-Badrawy, who played Zahra, largely retired after this role; director Galal El Sharkawy became better known for his 1970s television work.
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