The film was inspired by a 2015 incident in Egypt where a viral video of a dog's brutal killing led to four men being jailed.
Egyptian filmmaker Khaled Mansour’s feature film Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo is set to make its US debut at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, with screenings scheduled for February 9, 11, and 14, 2025.
Produced by Mohamed Hefzy through Film Clinic and marking Rasha Hosny’s debut as a feature film producer, the film’s global distribution is managed by Film Clinic Indie Distribution. Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo has already garnered several awards, including the Visual Identity and DCP Services Award from Creative Media Solutions at the fifth Amman Film Industry Days (AFID) and Amman Project Market. Additionally, it received production grants from the Red Sea Film Fund, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) and Fonds Image de la Francophoni.
Written by Mohamed El-Hosseiny and Khaled Mansour, the drama stars Essam Omar, Rakin Saad, Sama Ibrahim and Ahmed Bahaa.
Seeking Haven For Mr. Rambo tells the story of a young man confronting his past fears to save his dog and best friend from an uncertain fate.
Hassan is a man in his thirties, living with his mother and Rambo, his dog and best friend, in a poor neighbourhood. He hates having a steady job, but his mother pressures him to keep one so he can assist her with their daily expenses.
After his mother threatens to cut off the little money she gives him, he decides to go back to his old job, working for Shiko as a sandwich seller. One night, when Hassan returns home, he gets into a fight with Karem, a neighbour working as a car mechanic. Hassan is hit hard, and in his defence, Rambo rushes down and bites Karem in the crotch.
When Karem recovers, he tries to vindicate his lost pride. People of the neighbourhood suggest that Rambo is given to Karem, yet Hassan disagrees to such a deal, finding himself in a tough spot.
Assisted by his friend Ahmed, who works in a poor governmental veterinary hospital, and Asmaa, a girl who loves Hassan, the protagonist begins a journey in which he attempts to move Rambo to a safe place within the country. Unfortunately, with Karem’s connections within their neighbourhood, Hassan is being watched everywhere he goes.
With the help of Jamila, an animal aid activist, Hassan finally succeeds in finding a shelter for his dog outside of the country. This drives Karem mad, and so Hassan and his mother are kicked out of their home, and left with an unknown fate.
