Egyptian satire 'Kiss Me Not' screening at Metropolis Cinema

CAIRO – 29 April 2018: MAD Solutions, Zawya Distributions and The Metropolis Association have teamed up to present a unique event called "From Egypt with Love", which showcases four recent Egyptian films.

The first of these is director Ahmed Amer's 2018 feature film "Kiss Me Not" (BalashTebosni), which stars Yasmine Rais of "Factory Girl" and is set to screen at Metropolis Cinema on May 2. This satirical comedy is shot in the style of a documentary (or mockumentary) which follows a young film-maker's attempts to adapt the script of a great writer who recently passed away, only to find his inexperience prevents him from dealing with a rather odd and embarrassing situation. Tamer (Mohamed Mahran) is planning on shooting his film with star actress Fagr (Yasmine Rais), yet comes across a big problem in the opening scene where Fagr is in bed with her husband; she refuses to kiss him.

The issue turns out to be more complicated than just distaste with her fellow actor, as in the following takes Fagr consistently refuses to perform anything intimate or sensual, avoiding all kissing scenes as Tamer finds himself at wits end, given that he is shooting a romantic film! As Fagr finds herself drawn to being more modest and in touch with her religious belief, we see that the film makes a commentary of sorts about the various Egyptian starlets in the past who have chosen to walk the path of modesty and find themselves only starring in TV soap operas, and the pressures of Egypt becoming increasingly more conservative. The start of the film showcases various kissing scenes from the Golden Age of Egyptian Cinema, moments of passion all but gone today.

"Kiss Me Not" was released on February 1, 2018.