The film “Hadouta” (A Tale), starring Ahmed Helmy claimed the number-one spot at the Egyptian box office on Wednesday, its opening day in theaters.
The movie grossed approximately LE 3.614 million from 20,200 tickets sold across 60 cinemas.
The film marks Helmy’s return to the big screen after a nearly four-year absence and pairs him for the first time with actress Amina Khalil in a story that blends dark comedy, suspense, and human drama.
“Hadouta” follows a thug, played by Helmy, who lands in an unexpected predicament after losing his memory and forgetting where he hid a witness he had kidnapped.
Forced to seek help from a hypnotherapist—portrayed by Khalil—to recover his memories and piece together what happened, he sets off on a journey filled with twists that brings him face-to-face with enemies from his past.
During the film’s promotional campaign, Helmy revealed that he consulted psychiatrists to prepare for the role and delve into the character’s psychological dimensions and motives, particularly childhood trauma and losing his parents at an early age.
Blending psychological drama with comedic moments, “Hadouta” represents a fresh direction in Helmy’s filmography.
Written by Ahmed Abdel Rahman and directed by Mazen Ashraf, the film also stars Khalil, Rahma Ahmed, Khaled al-Sawy, and Maged al-Masry.
Edited translation from Al-Masry al-Youm
