I've ENGLISH SUBTITLED [Thanks to Ashraf for translation help!] the TRAILER of 'KARKAR' - The final destination for Egyptian actor Mohammed Sa'ad's grotesque satire of Egyptian Society. The film is unhinged, vulgar, cruel, crude, merciless satire of Egyptians and very very very funny! If you have an idea of Egyptian Society then see the representations of the society by Sa'ad and his cast of actors, you will scream your head off with laughing. But... Behind the laughing is the satire and the satire was of an Egypt in 2007 at boiling point with many frustrations. Here analysis of the acting and maniac imploding comedy, gruesome characterisations and extremes of characters maybe belies an Egypt that was literally at the end of its patience... KARKAR explodes a comedy with such violence and accusation against the morality of some of the population that one cannot question..."What is wrong?", "What can possibly motivate comedy of such intensity to attack the people with?"... KARKAR is a kind of SHA'ABI film. SHA'ABI being a kind of protest urban music, a little like Rap Music. In Egypt, that satirical and usually comical indirect criticism of flaws in society is taken to extremes by actors like Sa'ad in SHA'ABI Cinema like KARKAR. The film is basically about to what extreme people will go in order to falsely inherit money. The storyline is absolutely absurd and implausible where KARKAR [Mohammed Sa'ad], a rich heir is electricuted and loses his mind. One uncle invents a female cousin [his secretary] for KARKAR'S marriage who has grown up in Japan [?] and arrives in 48" wig and kimono...Alternatively, an aunt dresses the male cousin [double role for Sa'ad] as 'Reda' the female cousin for marriage and inheritance. The film is about the ridiculous deceit that is so easy to see though. The satire may indirectly point at similar 'open secret' corruptions in Egyptian Society and a feeling that too many people are too 'mercinary' for money... In the end KARKAR regains his mind and marries the secretary who confesses the fraud. Egyptians appeared to be very ill-at-ease with KARKAR, while earlier films like 'Al Limby' were satirical, KARKAR was manic and aggressive comedy that accused the people almost directly... Mohammed Sa'ad peaked in KARKAR and never regained his popularity of his 5 years previous. Sociologically, one may speculate that KARKAR contributed with other SHA'ABI films in provoking the population into revolutions of 'The Arab Spring'. Many conditions and shifts in the cinema from Egypt presented inequality and frustated audiences, but wearing a mask of comedy. Studying films of the decade up to The Revolution, many interesting trends to do with satirical cinema can be drawn. KARKAR is available on Rotana DVDs with Engish Subtitles for international audiences. However, some knowledge of Egyptian Society can help navigate through the sub-plot of satire. This trailer is by Al Sobky Video in Dokki Egypt. It is a wonderful piece of editing which captures so many of the worst elements of the satire together. KARKAR may be an important film to study in the run up to recent changes in the Middle East. It is an absolutely hilarious and brilliant satirical comedies on Egyptian Society of the 2000s.

• published: 16 Sep 2014
• views: 41