#3asal eswed
In Egypt’s comedy classic, ‘Asal Eswed (Bittersweet, 2010), there is a scene in which Masry, the film’s protagonist and an Egyptian normally residing abroad, goes on to lambast Egyptians for seeming happy despite the struggles he constantly sees around him during the events of the film. “Here in Egypt, we have the concept of alhamdulillah (thank God),” responds Masry’s neighbor, ‘Am (Uncle) Helal, summing up the common stereotype that Egyptians are a happy bunch no matter the difficulties they face.…
