Film Clinic
“Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo,” the debut feature film by Egyptian director Khaled Mansour is a powerful exploration of fragile masculinity, class differences, societal pressures, and the search for self-redemption. set in a working-class neighborhood of Cairo, the film focuses on 30-year-old Hassan, who lives with his mother and his beloved dog, Rambo. Their lives are upended when their landlord, Karem, decides to evict them to expand his car repair workshop. Hassan’s mother takes legal action against Karem, sparking a chain of hostile encounters that culminate in a public humiliation for Karem: after a physical altercation, Rambo, the loyal dog, bites Karem in a particularly sensitive area, leading to further escalation and forcing Hassan into a difficult journey across Cairo to find a safe place for Rambo.
Director: Khaled Mansour
Year: 2024
Country: Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Original Title: البحث عن منفذ لخروج السيد رامبو
Runtime: 102 minutes
“Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” is a film about class injustice and how it is oftentimes intrinsically tied to -violent- masculinity and the societal expectations surrounding it. Karem, a traditional villain, embodies a toxic form of masculinity, constantly asserting his dominance and demanding submissive respect from Hassan. His interactions are marked by an aggressive need to maintain control; when Hassan does not greet him with the expected deference, Karem becomes antagonistic, turning even a seemingly innocent “hug” into a violent struggle. His attempt to reclaim his dignity after being bitten by Rambo is driven by this same sense of wounded pride. The film starkly portrays Karem’s fragile masculinity as he challenges Rambo in a bizarre ‘man-to-dog’ confrontation, further escalating his vendetta.
Hassan, on the other hand, joined by his four-legged friend, represents a more vulnerable and introspective form of masculinity. Pressured from all sides – his mother, his uncle, and Karem – Hassan is trapped between turning in Rambo, which would ensure his mother’s safety but lead to the dog’s likely death, or defying them and risking homelessness. As he navigates this dilemma, Hassan’s journey becomes more than just finding a safe haven for his dog; it is also a journey of self-discovery, as Hassan embarks on a symbolic search for his father, who abandoned the family when he was ten, an event that led to their isolation from the community. This search for his father parallels Hassan’s deeper exploration of his own identity and the kind of man he wishes to become.
The film takes an emotional turn as it challenges traditional narratives of masculinity, offering a more compassionate and layered portrayal. Hassan’s bond with his dog and his interactions with Asmaa, a colleague who helps him and Rambo, showcase a healthier form of masculinity; one where men are allowed to express vulnerability, loneliness, and even shed tears in front of women. In one of the film’s more emotionally impactful moments, Hassan reveals something about his personal life and how it makes him feel for the first time. His embarrassment in that moment captures the struggle of a man conditioned to suppress his emotions, now slowly learning to embrace them.
“Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” ultimately becomes a story of seeking healthy masculinity amidst the struggles of financial uncertainty and oppression. It presents a contrast between Karem’s aggressive need to prove his manhood and Hassan’s quiet journey toward understanding his fears, confronting his past, and redefining his sense of self. The film’s narrative is full of universal social conflicts, highlighting how pressures of masculinity can both shape and misshape a man’s life, but also how, through introspection and courage, one can find a path to a more empathetic self.
Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo premiered at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival as part of the festival’s Orizzonti: Extra selection.
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