''Thieves in Thailand'' ( arz, حراميه فى تايلاند "Haramiyyah fi Tayland") is a 2003 Egyptian film directed by
Sandra Nashaat
Sandra Nashaat Bassal ( ar, ساندرا نشأت بصال; born February 2, 1970) is an Egyptian film director.
Biography
Nashaat is a Coptic Catholic. She was born to a Lebanese mother and a Syrian father. Nashaat attended Cairo's Higher Fil ...
. It is a
35 mm film 35 mm may refer to:
* 135 film, a type of still photography format commonly referred to as 35 mm film
* 35 mm movie film
35 mm film is a film gauge used in filmmaking, and the film standard. In motion pictures that record on f ...
and lasts for 105 minutes.Hillauer, p 102 "Filmography (35 mm, unless otherwise specified)" Lisa Anderson of the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' uses the film as an example of increasing conservatism in Egypt.
Plot
It is set in
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
and includes a romance.Anderson, Lisa. "Egypt's cultural shift reflects Islam's pull." ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
''. March 21, 2004. p 3 Retrieved on February 21, 2013. "An example is the recent hit movie "Thieves in Thailand." A mindless romp spiced with lush Thai landscapes, the film revolves around a romance—but not a single kiss sullies the screen." The main character, Fatin, is a late 20s, lower middle class man from
Cairo
Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...
Al Ahram Weekly
''Al-Ahram Weekly'' is an English-language weekly broadsheet printed by the Al-Ahram Publishing House in Cairo, Egypt.
History and profile
''Al Ahram Weekly'' was established in 1991 by the ''Al-Ahram'' newspaper, which also runs a French-langua ...
''. 27 March – 2 April 2003. Issue No. 631. Retrieved on February 21, 2013. No intimate contact, including a kiss, is seen.
Production
The naming was meant to coincide with
Ismail Yassin
Ismail Yassine (also credited as ''Ismail Yasseen''; ar, إسماعيل ياسين ; 15 September 1912 - 24 May 1972) was an Egyptian comedian actor, and is considered as one of the greatest comedians in Egypt.
Personal life
Ismail Yassine ha ...
films. The films, which used the same cast members and the same style but had differing themes and stories, started with ''Ismail Yassin fi'' ("Ismail Yassin in"). Likewise this film was produced after Nashaat's ''Harameya fi KG2'' (''
Thieves in KG2
''Thieves in KG2'' ( arz, حرامية في كي جي تو, Haramiyya fi KG2; "Thieves in Kindergarten") is an Egyptian film directed by Sandra Nashaat and screenwritten by Belal Fadl.Maged el-Kedwany – Fatin
*
Karim Abdel-Aziz
Karim Abdel Aziz ( ar, كريم عبد العزيز) (born August 17, 1975) is an Egyptian actor. He is the son of instructor Mohammad Abdul Aziz and nephew of film director Omar Abdel Aziz
Biography
Karim Abdel Aziz was born August 17, 1975, ...
– Ebrahim, Fatin's brother
*
Hanan Tork
Hanan Tork ( ar, حنان ترك; born 7 March 1975 is a retired Egyptian actress and ballerina. She was born as Hanan Hasan Abdelkrim Tork ( ar, حنان حسن عبد الكريم ترك), and is credited as Hanan Tork. She is a sister to two ...
– Hanan – Hanan is Ebrahim's wife and is forced to be his accomplice
Reception
The film was very popular in Egypt.
Sandra Nashaat
Sandra Nashaat Bassal ( ar, ساندرا نشأت بصال; born February 2, 1970) is an Egyptian film director.
Biography
Nashaat is a Coptic Catholic. She was born to a Lebanese mother and a Syrian father. Nashaat attended Cairo's Higher Fil ...
said "The film was as well received as I expected, although I feel it could have been seen by a greater number of people. But of course due to the war fewer people are going to the movies. One of my concerns was that ''Harameya fi Thailand'' would be compared and contrasted with '' Harameya fi KG2'', because they are two entirely different films. In the end the inevitable happened, but at least it was positive: many liked ''Harameya fi Thailand'' more."
Sherif Iskander Nakhla of ''
Al-Ahram Weekly
''Al-Ahram Weekly'' is an English-language weekly broadsheet printed by the Al-Ahram Publishing House in Cairo, Egypt.
History and profile
''Al Ahram Weekly'' was established in 1991 by the ''Al-Ahram'' newspaper, which also runs a French-langu ...
'' said "As a whole the film has memorable moments, yet its narrative structure falls short of the highest standards." Lisa Anderson of the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' described the film as "A mindless romp spiced with lush Thai landscapes".
Thieves in KG2
''Thieves in KG2'' ( arz, حرامية في كي جي تو, Haramiyya fi KG2; "Thieves in Kindergarten") is an Egyptian film directed by Sandra Nashaat and screenwritten by Belal Fadl.Indiana University Press
Indiana University Press, also known as IU Press, is an academic publisher founded in 1950 at Indiana University that specializes in the humanities and social sciences. Its headquarters are located in Bloomington, Indiana. IU Press publishes 140 ...
, July 11, 2008. , 9780253000422.
* Hillauer, Rebecca. ''Encyclopedia of Arab Women Filmmakers''. American University in Cairo Press, 2005. , 9789774249433.