By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Maher Sabry
Starring: Ayman | Julian Gonzalez Esparza | Jwana | Mehammed Amadeus | Munir Bayyiri | Youssef El-Shareif
Original language title: Toul Omry
Country: egypt
Year: 2009
Running time: 119
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1334617/
Bruce says: “ALL MY LIFE is billed as the first gay Egyptian film. It has been banned in Egypt which should not come as a big surprise since the film contains sex scenes that border on soft porn. Maher Sabry is quite a daring director but one can’t help but think that had he toned things down a bit the film’s important social commentary would receive the attention it deserves where it is most needed.
“ALL MY LIFE is inspired by the Love Boat arrests in 2001. In Cairo 55 Egyptian men were arrested in the gay bar, lives destroyed by the publishing of their names in the newspaper. ALL MY LIFE follows multiple characters all of whom are victims of a repressive society. Their individual responses are quite different. The film begins in the bedroom of Rami and Walid two men who are lovers. Out of the blue Walid announces to Rami that he is getting married and their relationship must end. Rami is at a loss having thought his relationship was secure. His peace of mind is further eroded by his best friend Dalia’s decision to move to San Francisco for her PhD studies rather than live in a country where women are gradually losing their freedom and rights. When his best friend Kareem, a young doctor, nearly escapes the Love Boat raid, Rami wonders what his options are. Rami is quite a boy magnet and has no trouble finding sex partners but most of them are closeted. When he identifies himself as gay to Mark, an American tourist who spends all his vacation time in Egypt, Rami is told ‘You’re the first gay Egyptian I’ve ever met.’
“Two back stories of men who live in the same apartment building lend additional fuel to the oppressive atmosphere. Ahmad is a religious Muslim who is constantly aroused by the women he sees. In his rooms he is either praying or masturbating. It becomes increasing likely that Ahmed will not keep his sexual under control no matter how much he prays. Mina, a Christian with an overly strict mother, buys porn and spies on Rami from his bedroom window. When the government creates a sting operation to entrap gays over the Internet, it is just a matter of time before Rami – or one of his friends – becomes victimized.
“The acting and script are adequate. It is impossible to assess just how brave the director is – first to identify himself as openly gay and to make such a ‘Western’ film. While other Egyptian films, most notably THE YACOUBIAN BUILDING, have featured gay characters, they are not presented in a particularly favorable light. ALL MY LIFE makes being gay in Egypt seem very real…..and extremely dangerous. 3 cats”