6 Days

Yusef and Alia were together in high school. What separated them was neither a fight nor a mistake; life simply went in different directions. Years later they meet by chance. Each has their own life, their own obligations, and their own version of the past. Over six days they spend time together and try to work out whether what was between them is still alive. Karim Shaaban uses the familiar shape of Egyptian romantic drama but turns the time limit into a rule: each section is given to one day, and as the time narrows the decision approaches. The narrative does not idealise the past; the two remember the reason for the separation differently. Ahmed Malek plays Yusef and Aya Samaha plays Alia. Who it's for: Viewers who like Egyptian romantic drama, stories of meeting again, and films compressed into a short span. Who it's not for: The structure is predictable and the supporting characters stay thin. The emotional peaks are also over-underlined by the music.