The Consul's Son

Amr Arafa's 2010 Egyptian film is about a man released after thirty years in prison. He learns that he has a son, and together with the boy and a friend he has just met he returns to a life of crime. The film moves between comedy and crime thriller. The pairing of Ahmed El Sakka and Khaled Saleh is what works best; they come from different comic registers and that difference keeps the scenes alive. The father and son theme provides an emotional close. The narrative logic is loose. The idea of how much the world has changed after thirty years inside is used as a source of jokes and taken no further. The production sits at the standard of mainstream Egyptian cinema of the time. Who it's for: those who enjoy Egyptian popular comedy and Ahmed El Sakka's films. Who it's not for: viewers expecting a coherent crime plot and realistic character development; the film cares about neither.