A Manly Stand

Review

I don’t know much about movies but it was close to obvious that this movie was recently made or had better tech compared to other movies we have been watching in this class. The lighting was good, the well sorted characters and family styles, rich life and all the bells and whistles.

A Manly Stand is a 2017 Egyption movie directed by Mohamed Sadek. Simple synopsis is - it’s a movie about 5 men living life, the best way they know how to.

Let me open up by hitting on one of the most likely hottest topics about the movie. I know this is supposedly creepy in some cultures but I will confess that as a young man in his early 20s myself, me and my friends frequently look at girls and put our scales to work and all of that business. Of course, some do it really badly, but also a simple google search will show you that women rate men even more harshly. I think men just fantasize, but women really have the power to be mean. So think about that. Can you tell I am trying to defend men? Oh hello?

If you have grown up around a very vibrant social life (not drinking and clubbing all the time), there wasn’t any single scene involving the 5 men that you won’t be able to relate to. I laughed so loud into the light of midnight.

I don’t care how vastly experienced your critical ability is with works of art, if you don’t give this movie at least a 4 star out of 5, we can genuinely blame it on cultural differences. I rate this movie a 5 star and more. I was struggling to find reviews for this movie but saw Leah Devincino from the discussions quote a piece from Film Gate reviews.

“Egyptian viewers really liked this movie so I’m going to assume that most of the jokes got lost in the translation or other cultural differences I didn’t pick up on. However, the jokes that didn’t get lost in translation are pure misogyny. One of the men asks the bartender to “give me a drink that will make her not see straight.” Ah, jokes about date rape drugs, super cool…… The men aren’t endearing or funny or interesting and nothing that they do is endearing or funny or interesting. Made in the vein of something like Last Vegas, The Bucket List or Wild Hogs, this feels like a two-hour scene of one episode of a sitcom where out-of-touch old men go on vacation.”

Before I make a bad point that oh this person hates the movie or the people who make it, I truly believe it’s better to blame a system instead of parts. This person seem to come from culture that will probably be similar to America’s. That cultures says something like - if your way of courting women isn’t mention in our ultimate guide book, it’s most certainly one of the highest form of evel. Please I am just dramatizing this. But you get the point

Remember when Hussein told his son to make a video contrast? That was an inch perfect depiction plus a hint of comedic acting. I have experienced countless similar situations, first hand.

One thing the actors unveil towards the end is that everybody has problems, so don’t be too sad thinking sad life is only happening to you.

“I will bring up your mother” Shoddy said, I thought it would be very offensive in an Arab society? An Arab friend of mine got all mad after I jokingly asked whether he would let me marry his sister, not even knowing whether he has a sister or not. More evidence for this short study, at the end of Ramadan 2022, the ICNM Mosque played a soccer game against the AIC mosque, and those AIC guys will contest and fight every bit of the game. One of their elders explain “There are brothers, that’s why they fight for each other”, or they are family or something a long those lines. But it’s just a soccer game. I couldn’t stand them. So saying I will bring up your mother jokingly, that was interesting to see in such a playful manner. My advice, don’t mess around with an Arab talking about their family.

Exquisitely crafted masterpiece, and intricate storyline. A Manly Stand indeed!