Flight 404

Hani Khalifa's 2024 Egyptian film follows Ghada as she prepares to travel for the Hajj. Days before departure an emergency arises and she has to find a large sum of money, which forces her back to people she cut off years earlier. The structure is a journey to raise money, but the real matter is the past returning. Ghada's old life is uncovered step by step and each person she meets adds another piece. The narrative releases that information slowly and forces the viewer to keep reassessing her. Mona Zaki's performance carries the film and was among the most discussed of the year in Egypt. The film also addresses the tension between religious practice and a past life directly, which is sensitive ground in mainstream Egyptian cinema. Who it's for: those who like character-driven Egyptian thrillers. Who it's not for: viewers who want to avoid themes of prostitution and abuse; the film handles both indirectly but plainly.