<p>Egypt&rsquo;s latest summer blockbuster is just getting started.&nbsp;El Darwish&nbsp;opened strong in week 34, pulling in&nbsp;EGP 15,973,921&nbsp;in its very first week at the Egyptian box office. And the journey doesn&rsquo;t stop here&mdash;the film is set for a wider Middle East release on&nbsp;28th August, which could boost its numbers even further.</p>
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DL4XekAs28S/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Amr Youssef (@amryoussefofficial)</a></p>
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<p><br />But enough with the figures, let&rsquo;s talk about the fun part: the actual film.</p>
<p><br /><strong>What to Expect (No Spoilers)</strong></p>
<p><br />El Darwish&nbsp;is a funny, witty and surprisingly heartfelt historical comedy that takes us back to Egypt in the 1940s under English colonisation. While it&rsquo;s not based on a true story, the way the plotlines and character arcs intersect makes it feel strikingly authentic.</p>
<p><br />From the moment the film starts, you can see how much work went into building this world. The props, the costumes, the sets&mdash;all meticulously crafted to recreate 1940s Egypt. Honestly, it was a visual treat.<br />The cast delivered across the board.&nbsp;Amr Youssef&nbsp;shoulders the film as its lead&mdash;and he owns it. After his run with the&nbsp;Awlad Rizk&nbsp;saga, we already knew he could command the screen, but here, his humor shines in a way no one else could pull off.</p>
<p><br />Dina El Sherbini&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;nails her role as Zebda. She&rsquo;s hilarious, quick-witted and so naturally funny that every scene she&rsquo;s in pops.&nbsp;Tara Emad&nbsp;delivered a strong performance too. She was classy, bossy and an activist, embodying how women have a huge role in freeing Egypt from colonialism.</p>
<p><br />And then there&rsquo;s&nbsp;Ahmed Abdelwahab&mdash;in his&nbsp;big-screen debut, no less. Playing a high-class con artist with a French accent, he was witty and charismatic. Definitely one to watch.</p>
<p><br />Mostafa Gharib&nbsp;did what he does best&mdash;stealing scenes with his lovable dumbness and comedic energy. And the cameo by&nbsp;Mohamed Shahin&nbsp;was another surprise, with his blend of arrogance and bad humor that somehow still worked.<br />Finally, the legendary&nbsp;Yousra&nbsp;narrates the film and appears as a special guest. Her presence added gravitas to the whole experience.</p>
<p><br />El Darwish&nbsp;is more than just a hit; it&rsquo;s a cinematic experience that combines humor, history and a refreshing challenge to old stereotypes. Whether it&rsquo;s the stellar performances, the flawless 1940s production design, or the strong feminist undertones, this film gives you plenty to love.</p>
<p><br />If you need two hours to escape, laugh and be reminded of how good Egyptian cinema can be, grab a ticket. Trust me&mdash;you won&rsquo;t regret it.</p>
<p><strong>Photo Credit</strong>: Amr Youssef's Official Instagram account&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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