Khalid Mansour’s moving first feature, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo (Al Bahs An Manfaz Ie Khoroug Al Sayed Rambo), tells the story of Hassan, one of millions as he struggles to protect his rescued dog and best friend, Rambo. It is the first Egyptian film in 12 years to be shown at the Venice Film Festival, competing in the Orizzonti Extra section.
The story unfolds in a working-class Cairo neighborhood, where Hassan (Essam Omar), a security guard, lives with his mother.
Their fragile routine is threatened by Karam (Ahmed Bahaa), the late landlord’s son, a mechanic and local bully who wants to demolish their building to expand his workshop. Tension peaks when Karam confronts Hassan in public, prompting Rambo to charge out and bite him.
Both Hassan and Rambo are outcasts, surviving Cairo’s rough streets, unwanted by society and constantly defending their right to exist.
Hassan’s father abandoned him, forcing him to support his family from a young age. Now stuck in a low-paying job, he has lost both his dreams and his girlfriend. His only true wealth lies in his home, his mother and his dog.
Rambo, meanwhile, faces prejudice as a Baladi dog, often seen as dirty and aggressive.
Hassan represents a generation that hoped for freedom and justice but ended up crushed by Egypt’s rapid political and social shifts.
The film’s second half follows Hassan’s desperate attempt to save Rambo from Karam’s revenge. His love for the dog pushes him into Cairo’s hidden corners in search of a safe escape. Protecting Rambo becomes more than rescuing a pet. It becomes Hassan’s way of facing his past and confronting his fears of the future.
For Egyptian audiences, Mr. Rambo feels deeply familiar. Hassan’s modest home and the noisy Cairo streets are portrayed with honesty, warmth, and dignity, avoiding the clichés of “poverty porn” The authenticity is heightened by standout performances from Omar and Ibrahim.
Cairo itself emerges as a central character. Cinematographer Ahmed Tarek Bayoumi frames the city with cold realism: traffic, crowded streets and tiny moments of fragile beauty. In one of many memorable scenes, Hassan goes to a mosque where, feeling helpless, he breaks down in tears. In another, he is at a nightclub, desperately trying to find a better future for Rambo.
I loved this film more than I imagined.