The film, developed through the Red Sea Lodge programme in 2021 and also supported by the Red Sea Fund, will have its world premiere in the Orizzonti Extra section.
The 81st Venice International Film Festival has announced the screening schedule for Egyptian filmmaker Khaled Mansour’s film, Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo, marking Egypt’s return to the festival after a 12-year absence.
The film will have three screenings at the festival. Its Official World Premiere is set for Wednesday, September 4, at 9:00 PM in Sala Giardino, with a prior Press & Industry Screening scheduled at 2:30 PM the same day. A final screening will take place on Thursday, September 5, at 9:00 AM, also in Sala Giardino.
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, 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.
