Life is strange.
You can never imagine what it will bring you.
Where you'll be tomorrow… What you'll be doing,
Who you'll be with…
You never know.
What follows is the story of Hassan El Saeed Ali.
One brilliant rascal!
INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS
SHARM EL-SHIEKH 2013
-Really, Julia. Really! Really! -No, no, no, no.
Morning, noon, and night. No, no, no, no.
You…
don't love me.
Oh, Julia.
-I feel you. -No, you say that to all women.
Liar.
No. No, Julia. No, baby.
You… you're different.
Different.
Not difference.
Baby.
You'll love Cornwall.
We can go for long walks and…
on the beach.
And we can eat cream teas.
And you can walk the dogs.
You have dogs?
You have three?!
-I love dogs and I love you. -And I love dogs and I love you.
Where will you walk the dogs?
In England.
Perfect! Then, what happened?
You won't be marrying me for my money, now, would you?
Julia…
Alright.
You sexy thing… I'll be right back.
Julia?
She died?
Dropped dead.
Hell, what thing were you on?!
The woman was 70 for God's sake!
And what did you do?
What could I do, Saeed? I grabbed my clothes and got the hell out.
Dear God! And your other option?
An 80 year-old.
Man, why do you always go for old women? Bro just stay in Egypt.
No wait! I say we go to El Daw and see what he has to say.
Who on earth is El Daw?
He's the one who got Salama to Italy.
How do we know if Salama is alive, or at the bottom of the sea?
He's alive and doing very well. Sends his family loads of money.
So what do you think? We'll go and see him?
We tried making a truce! They refused any
peaceful dialogue! They threw us with stones!
They dragged us to the square, threw stones, and injured so many of us.
This is the real Muslim Brotherhood! They hijacked the revolution's square!
The Muslim Brotherhood attacked booths of all political parties at the square
and tore the banners of any opposition to
their presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsy.
The square erupted in a battle of all sides, and
stones were thrown from each side, injuring hundreds.
What's all this smoke?
I told you a zillion times to smoke that dirt on the balcony.
And turn that noise down! Are you depressed and deaf too?
I got you the vegetables you wanted.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Good morning, Salah.
Good morning, how did the game go yesterday?
As usual…
lazy idiots… We lost.
Nobody cares, Adel.
Forget it… You'll love this goulash I made.
Forget about the goulash now. I have big news.
Ibrahim Samaha is now coaching a first-division club!
What the hell are you saying?
I swear! Look… here's the story… here…
Here…
coaching a top club.
Ibrahim Samaha? The guy who taught PE with us here three years ago?
-No way! He was an absolute loser! -Ironic, isn't it?
He was useless, Salah! We used to call him "The Idiot"!
It's God's will, Adel.
Don't improvise or act smart.
Just do as you're told.
A car will pick you up at Hawamdeya
and drop you off at a farm at kilometer 81.
There you'll ask about a man called Hammam.
You'll sleep in the cargo bed of a truck and they'll cover you with vegetables.
Then, they'll sprinkle you with ground coffee.
Why sprinkle us with coffee?
You'll pass through a security checkpoint.
Search the car.
You'll hold your breath.
The coffee will cover up your smell.
Dogs won't sniff you.
-Where are you coming from? -Giza.
You can go.
After you pass through the checkpoint they'll drop you off.
Two or three kilometers away from the shore.
When you reach the shore, you'll find a mosque.
A boat will be parked next to the mosque.
You'll see a man called Sharhabil. He'll give you a signal.
Is that his real name?
-He's a pirate! -And his name is…
His name is Ahmed! I don't know! What difference does it make!?
Sure, it does. if I'm drowning do I yell "Ahmed" or "Sharhabil."
It does make a difference of course!
Then ask him when you get on the boat.
The boat will sail then a bigger boat will be waiting near Cyprus.
You'll get on that boat.
They'll give you a life jacket on board. Guard it with your life.
You don't want to drown if you're thrown off the boat.
Why would anyone push me off the boat?
Anything is possible.
Especially if a fight starts.
It'll take three days to get to Italy.
They'll drop you off one kilometer away from the shore.
You swim to the shore.
There, the Italian police will be waiting for you and will arrest you.
Arrest me?!
Yes.
I want them to arrest you.
The moment they arrest you, you burst into tears.
They'll speak to you in Italian and you'll cry in a Syrian accent.
Remember, don't speak in an Egyptian accent.
There might be Syrians there. If any of them knows you're Egyptian--
And if they find out
They'll send you back to Egypt!
Send me back?!
Yes! Who said this was easy?!
I know but this is insane!
Well, that's how it works. Take it or leave it.
And how much does this whole thing cost?
Thirty thousand pounds?
Thirty thousand?
To hell with that!
And to hell with Sharhabil.
I'm telling you extraterrestrials are a reality!
Aliens exist.
So you are passionate about aliens?
Imagine having fans from another planet?
It is so cool!
What do your fans love the most about you?
My fans are divided into two halves… No, three halves…
One half cares about me… as a product.
To them,
I am a symbol or an icon.
Wait, you said product. Product means "commodity."
Are you a commodity?
I'm everything. And I'm not the one who decides what I am. My fans decide.
So they see you as an icon?
An icon is someone or something that lives forever.
And this is what I am.
Alright…
what advice would you
give your fans today?
Love is stronger than fashion.
Of course!
Will you look at that, son?
This looks great!
What is it, Dad?
This is lasagna, sweetheart.
Isn't lasagna made with meat?
No, meat lasagna is junk food… It's not healthy.
Your dad's lasagna has no meat.
-That's delicious! -Enjoy, son.
By the way, I heard about a coaching job today.
And where did you hear about it, Mom?
Samia, my colleague at work, told us about her neighbor… a football coach who died.
He coached a team of blind football players.
They're going to the World Cup or something.
Blind?
Is there such a thing as blind football, Mom?
Yeah. How can the blind play football, Mom?
Yes, they do.
And rather than making fun of me all the time,
Get out of here and go look for another job.
Something that pays the bills… instead of relying on me to support you.
I lost my appetite.
Come on, Mom, don't make a big deal, please.
Let her be.
-More lasagna? -Sure.
-Freeze! -Hell! You scared me!
I missed you, baby.
You don't fool me with that sweet talk. I know you like the palm of my hand.
But I love you, babe.
Marry me then.
Marry you how? Are you nuts? I am penniless.
Really? Then how can you afford this stuff?
What stuff? It's a little something to take the edge off.
Alright…
Any word from Kuwait?
Hand to God, no.
Am I gonna spend my life waiting for you, Hassan?
Hey, Mom.
-What's this smell? -What smell?
Did that idiot come here again?
No, Mom, he didn't.
-Look at me! -What, Mom?
You still like that guy?
Your father gave his word to the other man.
Don't disgrace us!
So? Did you go to Dr. Hashem?
No, Mom, I didn't have time.
I'll go tomorrow.
Of course, you were busy briefing NASA.
I'm not gonna live forever, son!
I'm breaking my back and cleaning floors! I can't do it anymore!
Okay, Mom! I said I'll go tomorrow.
And follow up on the Kuwait job.
I said okay, Mom! I will!
Why are you snapping at me?!
You're the one always talking about leaving here and making money.
Do something about it! Get out of here!
-There's a bell inside the ball. -A bell or something that rattles.
How do they know where the goal is?
God only knows.
Oh! There is a man guiding them behind the goal.
And the goalkeeper… The goalkeeper can see.
Oh, I get it. He's the only one on the team who can see.
He tells them how to play, defend… etc.
-Why don't you look into it? -Look into what, son?
You have nothing to lose.
You might win the championship, and then you get noticed by a big club.
Stop dreaming, son. That won't happen.
Anything can happen these days, Dad.
"El Ihsan nears qualifying
to the International Blind Football Champions League."
-"El Ihsan club is getting ready for…" -Have a good night.
You too, sir. Stay safe.
"El Ihsan Club is getting ready for the international football championship
which will be held in Poland next year.
The championship is for blind footballers, who play with a ball that rattles."
Koshari! Koshari! Come and get some Koshari!
Much respect for this man.
He's an artist.
What artist? He's a buffoon.
Oh! And you're going places with "Edra Net"!
"Edra Cyber Net", please.
So what happened with El Daw?
Hell with that! The man's crazy. I'd have to be Van Damme to get to the other side.
It's difficult.
I honestly think we've got a good life here. We should be grateful.
Grateful for what, Mr. Ambitious?
For what we have… A roof over our heads, and food on our plates.
Oh really? Bears and bats eat and have a roof over their heads too.
What did they do? Did they achieve anything?
I never saw a discontented bat.
Because you don't speak "bat-inese".
Stop being passive and dream for a change.
Dream? Take this, dude. He thinks he's a philosopher!
Step aside. I have a job to do.
Go away! I hope they push you into the sea and a shark feasts on your body.
Get outta here or I'll smack you!
Enough! Leave him alone.
What an idiot!
Get over here, boy!
Did he really do that?
Shame on you! Why did you do that?
She's like your sister, you filthy animal! Don't you dare touch her again!
You touch her again and by God, I'll put you on a skewer! Got that?!
-Got it, Hajj. -Get outta here!
-Get lost! -Alright, Hajj.
I am sorry. Don't be upset.
If he does this again he'll pay for it. I swear he will.
-Deliver us from evil, dear God… -You come back quickly, kid.
At your command, Hajj.
Stupid looks like an empty toothpaste tube.
RESTAURANT TARIQ
Man, you're late. Thanks.
-Enjoy your meal. -How much?
Total's £448.
Okay, 448…
Exactly! Here you go!
Wait… wait.
Hey, Fahad, give me 20 with one of these girls.
Make it quick!
Here you go, baby.
Saeed?
Do'aa?
I am fed up, Saeed.
Come on you must understand. You know how things are.
I am all alone in this world, and my
sister and grandmother are hanging on my…
-It's been years like this! -I can't find a proper job!
-I am doing my best! -Enough! Enough of this.
I can't!
-You can't what? -I can't continue…
Where was that?
At some shady guy's apartment downtown.
-Ahmed is doing great. -Thank God!
He'll do even better as long as he trains regularly.
He has to eat well, too, study hard.
He will.
I want you to be a champion and a good student.
-I'll see you on Sunday. Goodbye. -See you. Goodbye.
-Hello. -Hello.
I am Adel… Captain Adel. Are you Dr. Raouf?
-Yes, I am. -I called about the training.
-Oh, yes. Captain Adel? -Yes.
-Nice to meet you. -Same here.
-Please come with me. It's a pleasure. -The pleasure is mine.
You used to play football?
Yes, and I was about to go professional too, but I suffered a ligament injury.
And what do you do now?
I am a PE teacher.
At Ibn Khaldoun middle school for boys.
And I hope I can coach at a club or a national team.
But it's a special needs club.
The players are blind.
I'm aware of this. My son is in a wheelchair
and I am the one who takes care of him.
So I have a lot of knowledge about special needs.
-Good on you… -Thank you.
Alright, captain, you can leave your papers with me.
Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
Tell me, do you have any medical experience?
Honestly, no… just the general knowledge…
-Nice meeting you, captain. -Same here. Thank you.
Hope this works.
-Goodbye. Have a good day. -Goodbye, sir. Thank you.
You're hilarious, Engy. You trashed the girl!
What did you expect me to do?
People now need trivial things.
This girl you trashed, has 2 million followers!
That's the disaster. It's a generation of airheads.
Lighten up.
I want to write about important stuff… Change lives!
Change lives, no less?
Okay, I'll send you to the border to cover the war. You'll be a war correspondent.
I hope you do that.
You're a nutcase. Of course, I won't!
Here.
Here. Write about this. It's meant for the sports page.
But you can make it a human story.
Who are they?
Blind footballers.
They're one game away from qualifying for the World Cup for the blind in Poland.
Is there such a sport?
Turns out there is.
Crazy story… guy walks into the operation room, and he only had a faint pain peeing.
No kidding!
He walked into the hospital with his kidneys,
and went home without them! I'm telling you!
-I am here to see Mr. Ahmed Shawky. -Okay.
-Fifth floor. -Thank you.
Can you believe that, Hassan?
Seventh floor.
Alright, here you go.
-Thank you -You're welcome.
That man is blind, but I couldn't tell at all.
Oh, wow. They don't mention blindness in an ID?
You're actually right.
They can easily exchange identities!
Why would they do that?
I don't know why, to get away with anything.
Get out of military service, get out of a crime…
use your creativity, Hassan!
Good stuff?
The best.
Ebony?
A cocktail.
Africans, Asians, blondes, you name it.
Give me the money and get lost.
-What's up, dude? -Hey, how's it going?
Listen, I need a computer asap.
You want a CD? I got a 7-hour classic German compilation hot off the net.
Get lost immoral! I need a computer for work.
My pleasure, sir. My stations are at your command.
Get lost, kiddo!
FOOTBALL FOR THE BLIND IN EGYPT
EL IHSAN CLUB FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
Voy! Voy!
-Voy! Voy! -Pass!
Well done, Hany! He's coming your way.
-Hany! -Voy! Voy!
Yes, yes, go!
Pass! Pass!
That's a foul! He didn't shout "voy"!
He didn't say "voy"!
He didn't say "voy."
Ref, he didn't say "voy."
He did say "voy." What's wrong with you?
He didn't say "voy," Ref!
To your left, Farag!
A bit to the left.
-Goal! -Goal!
El Ihsan- Two. El Narges- One.
Way to go, boys! Way to go!
Great job!
Do you sell a blind man's cane?
Yes.
-Is this the bus stop? -Yes, son?
Give me a hand, please.
-Does it go to El Basatin? -Yes, easy.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
-Thank you, brother. -You're welcome.
Don't get up. I'll give it to him.
-Here you go. -Keep it, brother.
He won't take it.
Thank you!
-Good morning. -Good morning.
EL IHSAN CLUB FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
One… two… three… four. Another four…
One… two… three… four. One… two… three… four.
-Legs straightened, Hany! -Captain Adel!
This gentleman wants to see you.
-Peace be upon you. -Peace be upon you, too.
Welcome… Excuse me. this way.
-Captain Adel is sitting next to you. -Thank you very much.
First of all, I want to thank you for your time.
Don't mention it. What can I do for you?
Honestly, sir, I would like to play with you.
I am blind now, but I could see before.
And I used to play very well before I fell ill.
So what happened, son?
It's a disease that attacks the optical nerve and destroys it.
I went blind in two months.
I am very sorry.
May God be your aid.
It's all God's will.
It's a pleasure, and an honor to have you play with us.
What's your name?
Hassan El Saeed Ali.
And I am Captain Adel.
So, have you played with an audible ball before?
I put it inside a plastic bag so I could hear it.
Great! Let's go then!
Go where?
I'll introduce you to the team players and you can try playing together.
I'd love to, coach, but I don't have football gear.
So what? You're good as is… You know what? Wait…
-Hafez! -Yes, coach.
Come here.
-You'll take him to the locker room. -Okay.
-And get him an outfit and shoes. -Yes, coach.
-Then you bring him back. -Yes, coach.
When you come back, we'll grab a bite and then get you started.
This is too much, coach. Thank you.
Oh. And take off the sunglasses, Hassan, so you don't get hurt if you bump heads.
-Alright. -See you later.
-Thank you very much, coach. -You're welcome, son.
Thank you.
Here you go, son.
Thank you, Hafez.
Thank you.
There's a step, son.
Way to go, boys! Well done!
-Captain Adel. -Yes.
-Here he is. -Welcome back. Thank you, Hafez.
Stop and come here, boys!
Come closer, boys.
This is Hassan, a new player, and would like to join the club.
I am Tamer. They call me Hogan. I am the goalkeeper.
Nice to meet you, Tamer.
Don't believe him. He's no Hogan. He's not even big.
-I am Farag. -Hello, Farag.
-We're honored to have you. -Thank you.
-And I am Hany. -Hello, Hany.
-Hi, Hassan. Welcome. -Thank you.
-I am Hesham or H, whichever you prefer. -Hello, H.
And this is the ball.
-Oh. -Wow, it jingles.
Fine young men. Brave athletes.
In official games, you wear this. It's a blindfold.
But you can choose not to wear it while training.
-Alright, captain. -Now, sit here with your teammates…
Easy… Here's the chair.
-And I'll get you a sandwich. -Thank you, Captain Adel.
This is Farag, one of our best players. He's been here for almost…
It's only been one year, doctor. One year…
And who are you?
I am Hassan. I joined today. Captain Adel said I could practice with the team.
-Welcome, son. -Thank you.
This is Ms. Engy, a writer and journalist at El Sa'a newspaper.
She's here to meet you and write about us.
Hello, everyone. I'm really honored to be with you today.
The pleasure is all ours, Miss.
Nice to meet you, Farag. And congrats, Mr. Hassan.
-Thank you! -Thank you!
Let me introduce you to the rest of the team.
Excuse me.
-These beans are the bomb! -Mom's unique touch.
Then you must need money.
What have I done now?
You always think the worst of me, Mom.
I am your sweetheart, Mom. Be nice.
My sweetheart? Boys, please tell him to look for a decent job.
I have a job, Mom! What more can I do?
You call this a job?
I broke my back so you could get a degree.
What job do you expect me to get with this useless degree? A brain surgeon?!
He's right. It's not like there are any jobs out there.
I got him a job at a decent place with a decent man…
And he wouldn't lift a finger.
An office boy, my friend. An office boy.
This "decent" job is an office boy.
So I must jump on this rare opportunity and become CEO in five years!
Why not? You need to be optimistic.
You must try hard, son. You must suffer to gain anything.
But you want everything on a silver platter.
I am fed up with you! You're only good at wasting money on weed.
-Did you buy weed? -Your room is like a pigsty!
What's this?
Sunglasses? You wear sunglasses? Who do you think you are? A rock star?
What's up with sunglasses, dude?
What's wrong with you? Just regular sunglasses.
And what the hell is this thing?
-What is it?! -Stop going through my stuff, Mom.
What's all this weird stuff?
Who do you wear it for?
Mr. Mysterious comes back at midnight
every day, and I have no clue what he is up to.
Brilliant, Mom. Thank you for a great start to the day!
You're welcome.
Excellent. I'm outta here.
Get the hell out of my way.
Hassan!
Why so slick? When did you start wearing sunglasses?
-Is there something wrong about that? -Slow down.
No, nothing is wrong with it. It's just not you.
What were you doing on the roof that day?
I was fixing the satellite dish.
And why didn't you come over yesterday?
You knew my mother was away…
Sorry, I had a few errands to run.
What's up with you? Why are you acting so weird?
I am not acting weird! I'm just busy.
Listen, I am late for work. I will call you later.
Choose the right time and the right position then kick the ball.
Tell me, why were they saying "Voy! Voy!"?
"Voy" is Spanish for "Here I come."
Players should say it when heading toward the ball,
so they don't collide with each other.
Because if they do, some injuries can be major.
And why do some of them wear blindfolds even though they can't see anyway?
Blind people are at various degrees of blindness. Some can see shadows.
This blindfold guarantees that no one can see more than the others.
But some people are not wearing them.
Because this is not an official game.
In a tournament, they must all wear it.
Hassan is very good. Go, Hassan!
-True. He has amazing skills. -Yes, he's very good.
Great job, boys! We will qualify for the World Cup!
Go, Farag!
Hassan!
Hey, Champ!
Tell me.
Do you have a passport?
Passport? Why, coach? Are we traveling?
Yes, we're traveling…
To Kenya.
Kenya?
Yes.
Son, I've decided to make you part of the team.
We won 1-0 in the home game.
Hopefully, we'll qualify in the away game.
I'm thinking you should come along and get some experience.
-Seriously, coach? -Yes, son.
Thank you very much.
May God bless you!
I have a passport. I issued it because I had a job offer in the Gulf region.
That was before my illness.
Of course, I'll get the passport, coach.
Very good. Goodbye, son.
-I'll see you in the locker room. -Sure, coach!
I heard Captain Adel asked you to join the team. How do you feel about it?
-In fact, it was a surprise, and– -I was just about to
tell you to watch out.
-It's okay. -I am sorry.
No worries at all.
I was asking you how you feel after joining the team.
It was a great surprise from the coach. May God bless him.
-I bet your family will be very happy. -Very!
Especially Mom.
The Kenya game is very important. It's like a final.
Of course! I am sure our efforts will be rewarded.
So other than the club and football,
what's your day like? What do you do?
-I like listening to the radio. -Nice.
-I listen to music. -Nice.
And of course, I listen to the Quran.
God bless you. So, do you pray?
Thank God. I never miss a prayer.
I always put my hope in the Almighty.
He is the one who heals.
What did I miss?
You missed a hilarious part!
My goodness! What is he doing here?
What's wrong, dude?
I am blind.
What the hell are you doing, idiot?
Keep it down. You'll expose me.
-You freak -I'll explain when we leave.
-It cracked me up. So funny. -Yeah… Careful! There's a step.
-Peace be upon you! -Peace be upon you, too!
I recognize this voice.
Is it Captain Adel?
-Yes, dear. I am Captain Adel. -Hello, coach.
What a lovely coincidence.
-How are you, Hassan? -I am alright.
How are you, Hassan?
-Is that Tamer? -Yes.
-How are you, Tamer? -I am good buddy.
Did you like the film?
Very much, coach! Ahmed Helmy is always hilarious.
Why didn't you say you like movies? You could've come with us.
Oh, thanks for offering coach.
Amr has a friend who works at this theater.
And he sneaks us in for free.
We always liked going to the movies together before.
We describe the scenes to him.
-God bless you all. -Thank you.
Are you going somewhere? I can give you a ride.
That's very kind of you, coach. We'll walk for a while.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow on the plane. Don't be late.
Of course, coach.
Goodbye.
-Have a good night. -Take care.
Watch your step, Hassan.
-What plane? -Tell us what's happening, man.
Later! Later!
-And how will you play blindfolded? -I'll manage.
-You're one sly devil! -I am indeed.
Just pray I can pull it off, Saeed.
So, you'll never come back from Kenya?
Non-stop ebony?
What Kenya ?! I've got my eyes on getting to Europe!
Dude, you must take us with you!
Take you where? I'm not going to the supermarket!
Please don't jinx it. Just pray that it goes smoothly.
May God protect you from people like you.
Hello, Mom. Listen…
I have work in Sharm El Sheikh.
Will be back in a few days.
Take care of yourself.
Have a safe trip.
-Good evening, sir. -Good evening.
They're blind, sir. They're over there.
-Where's the guy called Hassan? -He's here.
Bring him here.
-Bring who? -Hassan.
Hassan, the passport control officer wants to talk to you.
-Why? -I don't know.
Maybe he needs some information.
Don't worry. I'll go with you.
I have your bag. Come on…
Take off your glasses, please.
First time to travel, Hassan?
Yes, sir.
Do you have an exemption from military service?
Paper is in the bag.
This one? Here you go.
Where is it, Hassan?
Your exemption doesn't state that you're blind.
I got exempted because I am my mother's only son.
The illness that made me blind happened only two years ago.
May God protect you from such a fate, sir.
Yes, sir. Not all the blind are born without sight.
Some lose it at an older age.
Thank you.
-I'll bring the rest of the players. -Go ahead.
Next…
Where are you going?
Nairobi.
Welcome! Welcome!
Coach, Adel. Welcome!
He's blind.
Oh, sorry!
I've never been upset at any of you.
But if we don't qualify for Poland, I'd be quite upset.
Home or away, it doesn't matter.
What matters is that we win.
1-0 is not a comfortable goal difference.
If you man up, fear nothing, and focus, we'll qualify.
Put your faith in God, and you will be invincible.
-We'll win, God willing. -God willing.
We're going to Poland, brave men!
-Good willing. -Amen!
God, help us win.
Careful! Don't let him pass!
Focus for heaven's sake!
Sub Hassan in, coach.
Ref!
-I want to change. -Substitution.
For Hassan number 12.
We can do this.
Keep Going! Keep Going!
The score's now 4-2.
Farag, to your left!
The score is now 4-3.
Come on!
Come on, boys! One more goal and we qualify!
We're almost there!
Voy, voy, voy!
Cut him off!
Voy, voy, voy!
Voy!
Come on! Do it!
Penalty!
Me! Me!
Farag.
Farag, let me take this one. I want it.
Go for it! You can do it.
Hassan, listen to Sameh. Focus!
Make yourself big!
The score is now 4-4.
Hassan! Hassan!
What about me, idiots?
Captain Adel! Captain Adel!
-Who is it? -Hassan, it's me, Adel. Open up.
Damn!
Coming right away, coach! One second…
-Hey, coach! -How's it going, Hassan?
I am good. Come in.
Thank you.
I see, you were making tea.
Yes.
Hassan, I'm here to tell you how proud I am of your performance today.
Thank you, coach. Thank you.
-God gave me the strength. -Of course, son.
I'm proud of you. For real.
But don't you think for a second that I'm not on to you.
On to what?
That you're a fraud…
That you can see just as good as I can.
What, coach? How can you say that?
Now, you listen.
I've been watching you from day one.
I suspected you, seeing how good you were.
But I kept telling myself that maybe he's just a really good player
until I saw you at the movie theater.
Then your behavior at the airport.
Then I was sure you're a fraud.
And we can't have a fraud in this team.
That's why the moment we return to Egypt,
you'll never step foot in that club.
And I won't expose you to the rest.
God frowns upon a…
cheater's accomplice, Hassan.
Now if you'll excuse me.
So, after I help you get your win,
you want to kick me off the team?
You took what you wanted, and now you stop me from getting what I want?
I subbed you in just like I would any other player.
You mean you subbed me in when you were losing 4-1
and you were about to lose your shot at the World Cup.
You're not fair, coach.
So what do you want out of this act you're playing?
To get to Europe…
Then you'll never hear from me again.
You see, coach, we all want something.
You want to win for your future.
And I, too, want to win for my future.
On one condition…
Shoot.
You play till the final game and win me the championship.
Don't flee the moment we reach Poland.
And you won't say a word?
My lips are sealed.
I agree.
Deal.
In that case, should I make you a cup of tea?
Or would you prefer a cold beer?
I won't get any sleep if I have tea, son.
Get me a cold beer.
Congratulations! We're honored to have you.
Wow! What a feast!
Of course, coach! We must celebrate your victory!
How many times does a team make it to the World Cup?
We must thank your husband and these men who worked for years.
Thank you, coach.
And we owe it to Hassan too, Coach, don't forget him.
How can I forget Hassan?
He's our new hero.
Yes, of course.
Thanks a lot, coach. I didn't do anything.
It is all God's blessing and my brothers' hard work.
I was just a bit lucky.
And that luck will hopefully win us the World Cup.
-Yes, hopefully. -God willing.
You know I'd love to go to Poland with you guys.
Oh, that would be amazing, Ms. Engy!
I really want to do that.
Do you know if Poland is cold?
Yes, it's snowing these days.
Coming! Wait a second!
-Good morning, Auntie. -Good morning, dear.
My name is Engy. I'm a reporter at El Sa'a newspaper.
I am writing about Hassan and the World Cup.
The World Cup?
Yes, and I'd really love to take a photo of you and him together.
Hello, Ms. Engy. Welcome.
-How are you, Hassan? -I'm good. Welcome.
-Please come in. Come in. -Thank you.
It's a pleasure to have you.
I am playing blind, Mom. Play along and I'll explain later.
Welcome! It's so good to have you.
I am sorry I came unannounced.
Don't say that, Ms. Engy.
You're welcome anytime.
-Welcome and no apologies, please. -Thank you.
-How are you doing? -I'm doing well.
Great.
You've been missed.
You've been missed too, Hassan.
You should've said you were coming so we could've given you a proper reception.
-I was going to tell you but… -Welcome. It's great to have you.
Thank you, Auntie.
How does it feel to see Hassan play in the World Cup?
-The World Cup? -Yes…
Oh, the World Cup… I am over the moon!
I hope he wasn't too modest to tell you that he should take all the credit.
He scored the decisive goal. He took them to the World Cup in Poland!
You scored the goal?
Yes, Mom. I did.
-You scored the goal, Hassan? -God be praised.
You're blessed, my son. Why didn't you tell me?
You should know Ms. Engy, this is all thanks to her prayers.
And because of your determination, ambition, and faith.
-Can I take a photo of the two of you? -Of course!
Can you sit closer to your mom?
Like this?
-Hug your mom more. -Come here, Mom.
Yes, good.
You fraud! You cheater! You're not my son!
You have to stop this filthy charade!
I'm telling you I'll go away. I'll get the hell out of here!
You'll be done with me and all my drama!
Through cheating? Through cheating, Hassan?
Follow up on that job in Kuwait. Nothing is like an honest job.
They're not responding, Mom. And a zillion people applied for the same job.
And if I go, the sponsor will take my passport.
And they'll ask me to clean and take the trash out.
It's all so demeaning!
And it's not the end of the world if one player escapes from the team.
Listen to me, Mom. No one cares. Believe me!
Just pray I get through this without being caught.
Bye, my love.
Today, I'm very proud of you, and your achievement.
Qualifying for the World Cup proves that nothing is impossible.
I don't really care if you stay or go. I don't want to see you again.
Don't call me again.
Thank you very much.
If we may get together for a photo with our sponsor.
May I say hello, Ms. Engy?
And how did you know I was standing here?
Your scent… Your perfume is very distinctive.
Thank you.
But you don't seem like your cheerful self today.
Honestly, I've had better days.
That's obvious.
But how can you tell?
I may be blind, But I can feel how--
-We're honored to have you. -Thank you, Captain Adel.
-You're welcome. May I? -Sure, go ahead.
Be careful. Tamer has his eyes on you.
Why? What happened?
I don't know. But he's looking at you suspiciously.
Looks like he can feel something.
Excuse us. The chairman wants to shake hands with each of them.
Of course. Go ahead.
-Excuse me. -Sure.
Drown him.
Are you nuts?
I am not gonna kill him!
Tie him up and throw him in the desert.
You're dead if he rats you out.
You must do something so he's no good as the goalkeeper.
Poison him, kidnap him, drown him…
Have a car run him over… Anything!
What? What's up?
You are a genius!
We run him over with the motorbike!
What the hell are you talking about?!
Are you insane? You want me to go to jail?
You won't go to jail, dude.
You'll just give him a nudge with your Vespa.
Leave me out of this, Hassan. I don't want trouble.
Accidents happen all the time, dude!
Tell me, how many did you run into before?
-Three. -Did you go to prison?
No, because it was all minor things.
A dent here. A scratch there. No real damage to anyone.
And no real damage will happen to him either.
You'll just give him a nudge. Break his leg… his hand… that's it.
No, dude, I am out.
I can do it.
But I get to take his place as a goalie.
Take his place?
Didn't you say the coach is wrapped around your finger? Work it out.
And how the hell do you plan on pulling this off?
You must be joking. What an idiot!
Oh, never mind. He's gone.
How can anyone leave a beauty like you?
Oh, you're too sweet. I'm not really--
Hi, Mom.
Hi, Hassan. Engy is here.
Oh, welcome! What an honor.
Welcome.
Welcome, Ms. Engy.
Welcome.
Hello!
Where were you? At the club?
No… he must've been at the mosque with his pious friends Saeed and Amr.
May God accept your prayers.
I was actually at the club.
We had practice.
With all this effort, I'm sure you'll win this cup. You'll see.
God willing, Ms. Engy. God willing.
-I have to go. -No, please don't go.
-Let's have dinner together. -Next time I'll stay longer.
Thank you, you're too sweet.
-Take care. -You too.
-It was a pleasure to have you. -Thank you, Om Hassan.
Sorry, I bombarded you with questions.
?
Our neighbor is getting married. May you be next.
-See you later. -Goodbye, Ms. Engy.
Where were you? Attending your girlfriend's engagement party?
Drop it, Mom. She's taken now.
Good riddance. I hated her and her mother.
And this poor girl was curious about your dreams and ambitions.
Get out of my sight with those stupid glasses.
-What's wrong with you, dude? -Nothing.
Get me a beer.
So, do you have a plan?
Okay.
So every day after practice, we shower.
The goalkeeper isn't blind, so he's done first.
And he always comes out of the rear door.
As soon as you see him coming out, you whack him.
What about people on the street?
Don't be a pain. The street is quiet.
And hopefully that day no one will be around.
-Edra? -Yes.
You'll be on standby outside with the bike.
As soon as the goalie packs up his stuff
and is on his way out, I'll call you.
You get ready. When you see him coming out, you give him that nudge.
Easy.
What can we do?
Many happy returns, guys. Happy Eid!
Same to you, Tamer.
CONNECTING CALL
Was that Tamer?!
What happened?
Call an ambulance!
What are you made of? Have you no mercy?
You said you'd rough him up not break his bones!
I wasn't the one driving the Vespa.
It was Amr and he hit him with the club.
The guy went in too hard. Why are you blaming me?
What's the news, doctor?
Is he out of surgery?
He's still inside.
Screws and plates.
Dear God!
Tell me, Hassan…
Who do you think would benefit from breaking the leg
of the only sighted man on our team?
I don't know, Doctor. It was an accident.
An accident?
Or could it be that someone doesn't want him to see something suspicious?
What do you mean?
Have you ever seen what a blind man's eyes look like?
They look lifeless or are covered in white film.
Not as lively as your eyes.
May God protect you from such a condition, doc!
And may he protect you too, Hassan.
How much are you willing to pay?
Pay for what?
For your escape in Poland.
Let me show you something very interesting, Hassan.
Tell me. Who do I look like?
Hesham?
Or Hani?
Hell!
They all aren't blind?
I've been waiting for the right moment to get you, Hassan.
I want 50,000 pounds by the end of next week.
Fifty thousand?
Where do I get that kind of money from?
Not my problem. Find a way like the others did.
You already broke the leg of my keeper.
Did the keeper know about Hesham and Hani?
No, that's why I'm letting you off the hook.
You rid us of him.
What if Tamer spills the beans?
Don't worry. It's all under control.
What are you idiots made of?
The same stuff you're made of, Coach.
We're all trying to make a living.
In this case, I've got two more who want to travel.
Oh, they're most welcome…
A 150,000 pounds and they're good to go.
You didn't answer my question, doc?
Can they all see?
Chill, coach! Only two of them can see.
Alright, doc.
Not a single pound short.
See you!
May you pray in Mecca.
May we all.
Did you come up with a plan?
We can't get rid of him.
Were you thinking of killing him?
I didn't mean that. I am just letting you know.
How much do you have?
LE 5,600… what remained from the qualifying award.
-And you two? -Not a penny!
Then you're out.
Well, I have an idea.
-Hajj Tarek. -What about him?
Thursday…
The busiest night of the week.
We always have a full house.
Everyone orders kebab… newlyweds, potheads, married couples…
Even sobbing divorcees.
The restaurant pulls in at least 100,000 pounds that night alone.
At the end of the day, Hajj Tarek takes the money and a kilo of ribs.
Then he goes to his second wife. He takes the Ring Road.
If we ambush him, we'll have the money.
And maybe more…
Why would you bite the hand that feeds you?
Feeds me half of what I deserve.
-What car does he drive? -An old Mercedes.
What's wrong, Dad?
Why aren't you eating?
Nothing, sweetheart. Just thinking about things up ahead.
So how are the preparations for the World Cup going?
They're going well. The players are really giving it their all.
And you guys got a game plan, tactics, and this kind of stuff?
Of course, there is a plan. Your dad is good with plans.
The boys and I are thinking of a new tactic…
that will allow us to make the country proud.
-You will. -God willing.
-So? -Call now.
Alright.
-Do you really believe this? -That's what they say, Hajj.
Say what? Politicians will fool people with nonsense.
Don't believe them.
Hello
-Peace be upon you. -Peace be upon you, too.
-At your service. -Do you have ribs?
Yes.
How much for a kilo?
Hundred and fifty pounds.
Do you have sausages?
-Yes. -How much for a kilo?
Hundred and twenty pounds, sir. Can I help you?
Must be quite a sausage.
Yes, we have kafta. Fancy a kafta finger?
AMR EDRA DONE.
Okay, I'll think about it and call you. Thank you.
Such a chatterbox!
I can't believe it.
He thinks he's on the late-night show.
One of the guys was hurt in a sliding tackle.
Slippery floors.
May God's blessings increase.
Here you go. Hajj.
I wish we could hang out, but I have commitments.
RESTAURANT TARIQ
What the hell is this?
It's fake. Just sounds like one. Don't worry.
What are you talking about?
-Hell! -Shut up! and keep driving.
What's all this smoke?
Oh Damn!
Evening, sir!
Give us everything you've got, sweetheart.
Who are these bastards?
Get lost, idiots!
No, asshole, you will get lost… or I'll blow your heads out!
Let's go!
Get on!
Way to go, dudes!
Poland, here we come!
Good. These are 6,750.
And these are 450 so the total is 117,555.
Well done, dudes!
-Now call the doctor. -The rascal can wait till tomorrow.
As you wish.
-How do you like them ribs? -Awesome!
Not a word.
-Who is it? -Don't breathe.
-Who is it? -Engy.
-The journalist? -Yes, jerk.
-Peace be upon you. -Same to you, Sheikh Hassan.
How are you?
Doing good, Ms. Engy.
Thank God.
Sorry for calling late but I was thinking about you.
Never say sorry. You can call me whenever you want.
So, what are you doing?
Not much. I was…
I was listening to some Quran to go to sleep.
You told me you like music, right?
Yes.
Very good. I am taking you to a concert.
Seriously?
What concert?
Are you interrogating me?
Not at all…
I'll be honored.
I'll pick you up then.
Alright.
Take care of yourself.
You, too.
You rascal! Your luck keeps getting better.
In sickness and in health…
Tell me…
Are you a real doctor? Or are you another fraud?
What's your story?
Zip it and give me the money or I'll blow your cover.
How much is this?
LE 70,000
I said 150,000 for the three of you.
Listen Dr… The three of us are going to Poland without much blabbering.
You know why?
Because we have everything on video. Look up and see for yourself.
We can post it if you want.
One click and the video will be on the Ministry of Sports Facebook page.
And you'll become the talk of the town.
So, I suggest you accept the 70,000 and stay on our good side.
Do we have a deal?
You filthy morons!
Their documents will be on your desk tomorrow.
Feed the old chimps, as well.
Hoping they can reach the final rounds…
and maybe even win the championship.
Wow!
Wow! So well written, Ms. Engy.
I can't thank you enough for these sweet words.
I had a lot of fun today.
I had a lot of fun, too.
Alright, I'll get going.
Wait, I'll take you upstairs.
No, don't bother. I know the way.
It's nothing. I'll take you upstairs and say hi to your mom.
I actually miss her.
Now?
Is something wrong? As long as it's not awkward…
Of course not. You're always welcome.
She's at a wedding nearby. She should be back any minute now.
Okay. Let's go.
Let's go.
Easy…
You always go out of your way for me, Ms. Engy.
No, it's nothing.
Thanks a lot. She'll be here any minute.
I can't find the light switch.
You don't have to turn the lights on. I can see. Go ahead.
Sit down, Hassan.
-Take off your glasses. -No, please don't.
Just take them off. You're at home.
I got you a little gift.
I hope you like it.
-What gift? -Give me your hand.
07:47 p.m.
So you remember to make time for me.
Thank you so much, Ms. Engy.
I don't know what to say.
Hassan, can you see?
I am sorry.
Why did you do this?
It's a long story, Engy.
Why are you doing this?
-Your mom is in on it, of course. -No.
Don't be unfair to her. I dragged Mom into this.
Why did you do this?
I am sorry. I made a mistake.
I did this because I wanted to get out of here.
-Engy, life is hard and I can't… -Shut up!
Shut up and don't say a word.
If it weren't for your mom,
who you say is not a part of this…
I would've exposed you everywhere.
-I am sorry… -Don't touch me!
Don't ever call me again.
Do you understand?
-Excuse me. -What's going on?
Hey, Dad.
You're here, sweetheart?
You've been lost in thought lately.
Because I think of you, champ.
I'm gonna miss you, Dad.
I'll miss you a lot, too.
Don't come back, Dad.
What are you talking about?
Of course, I'll come back.
-I overheard you talking to Hassan once. -What?
What exactly did you hear?
Calm down, Dad. I heard what I heard.
And I am not mad at you.
You have to run away like them and stay away from this misery.
Once the news comes out, you'll be in a lot of trouble.
And no one will believe that you didn't know they're not blind.
I won't travel then.
Are you crazy, Dad?
It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Why stay here?
And how can I leave you and your mom?
Mom doesn't care.
If it were up to me,
I'd come with you.
Focus on yourself, Dad.
And you'll live without me, Omar?
Don't worry about me.
You did your best with me…
Go and I'll join you.
Okay?
Go, Dad. Hopefully, all will be well.
Look at that, my friend.
Is this Italy?
Yes. He opened a restaurant by the sea.
Summer parties and women!
Wow! Now, we're talking!
Just don't jinx it!
Shut up and just look.
What's wrong, Hassan?
Nothing.
Why are you so down?
What the hell happened now?
Engy found out that I can see.
-Hell! -Hell!
Will she tell the cops?
No, is that all you care about?
What are you thinking?
I don't know.
Are you thinking of staying?
Snap out of it, Hassan! Please!
You came up with a genius plan to get the hell out.
And if it's about Engy, tell her to come with us.
What if things get better here?
I'm on that flight brother, I have a passport with my visa in it.
If things get better here,
I'll read it in the news.
I told you never to call again.
Just listen, please.
I want to see you.
I want to see you, even if it's the last time.
Where do we meet?
Wherever you want.
Then I'll see you tomorrow after work.
What's wrong, Mom?
You never wear sunglasses.
What's the matter with you?
Nothing.
-What's the matter, Mom? -Nothing, son.
What's this?
Who did this to you?
It's nothing, son… nothing!
Who did this?! Speak up!
It's nothing…
What do you mean by nothing? What happened to your face?
Speak up! Where were you? Were you at work?
The doctor you work for did this?
It was him, right? I swear I'll kill him!
No, Hassan… please… Hassan, come here…
He did nothing wrong.
He did nothing wrong?
-I took something from them. -What did you take from them?
A ring… a diamond ring.
Why the hell did you take a diamond ring?
I wanted to sell it and give you the money so you won't leave.
Why did you do that, Mom? Why?
Why?!
Why did you do that, Mom? Why?
Why?
Have mercy! Why are you doing this?
Enough!
I wanted you to stay.
Hassan, go away…
Travel son. Get out of here. Flee.
Go and live another life. Live a better life for me.
For this life spent in pain and misery.
Get out, son. Leave, Hassan.
Go away and come see me when you can.
Stop it, Mom. Stop it!
I'm still not used to you without sunglasses.
So what do you want?
I want you to come with me.
Come where? Are you nuts?
It's not crazy. You wanted to come anyway.
Yes I wanted to go…
To stand by you, and support you.
But you lied to me.
I only lied to you once.
You'll never understand how we live.
I know exactly how you live and I understand…
But you've never lived the misery…
And you'd never be able to take it.
But you can choose to stay.
It's hard.
It's hard to stay.
I've lived my entire life programmed to get out of here.
But things can change. There's so much we can do…
And you've never really tried getting a decent job!
I've never done anything decent.
What have I been given?
What have I been given, so I can give anything back?
What have I been given?
You still don't want to come with me?
It won't work, Hassan.
It won't work.
Don't be so hard on yourself, Hassan.
None of us chose this.
What matters now is that we focus on arriving without getting caught.
Keep your eyes peeled.
Smile.
-God help us arrive safely. -Amen!
-May God guide us to victory. -Amen!
-God forgive us if we have sinned. -Amen!
-Guide us to the right path. -Amen!
POLICE
-Are they with you? -Yes. With me.
The glasses. Down.
Okay.
Take off your glasses, guys.
HASSAN EL SAEED ALI CAIRO
Is he the leader?
What?
I am asking if he is the leader.
Sorry, what leader?
Leader. Leader…
of team.
Captain.
Captain! He thinks you're the captain of the team.
No. No captain.
He's a tramp.
Did you win the cup?
He's asking if you'll win the championship.
Say anything to get us out.
He's saying Poland will win it.
Clever guy!
WARSAW
Enjoy your stay.
Thank you.
A very happy team.
Yes.
Very happy people.
What the hell is going on here?
What the hell do you guys think this is?
Do you think you're on vacation?!
You got five minutes and I'll see you all downstairs!
Distribute these amongst yourselves.
Okay, so, at your twelve o'clock, there's a salad.
Three o'clock is a steak. I'll cut that for you.
Six o'clock pasta, and nine o'clock potatoes.
Okay, but more importantly, is Hassan eating well?
Yes, he's eating well and is perfectly fine, honey.
We want him to be in the best shape tomorrow.
Did you hear that, asshole?
As we agreed, you play all the games.
Must we really?
Yes, we must!
If not for me, then for this poor guy here…
He's been dreaming of this day all his life.
I won't let it happen.
He won't wake up to find that everyone around him is a fraud…
Don't worry, Coach.
Hassan?
Yes?
When do we bolt?
Tomorrow, right after the game.
As soon as everyone sleeps, we scram.
Do you know where you're going?
I'm going to a friend of mine in Germany.
I'll take the first train out.
He's a waiter at a restaurant and arranged for me to work there too.
What about you?
Italy…
Folks from my village work in Rome.
I'll go and see what works.
Yeah. Good luck.
I'll miss you, buddy.
You, too, dude.
At your twelve o'clock, sweaty armpits.
Three o'clock, a sack of shit.
Six o'clock, a pool of piss.
And nine o'clock, stick of snot.
Love you, Coach.
Where's Farag?
-I don't know. -The bus will be here in ten.
Look for him.
Go get him from his room. We don't want to be late.
We're doing all this for him.
Okay, big heart.
What's this?
You're holding the cane upside down. You bastards will expose us!
Sorry, boss! Sorry. Good morning.
Move it!
Farag!
Mrs. Hanan!
Excuse me. Help me.
My friend won't open.
Please help me.
House-keeping!
Excuse me!
Nobody's here!
Wait! Nobody's there?
What are you doing?
What the hell!
Where's Farag?
GONNA MISS YOU, GUYS.
What?! What does this mean?
He fled.
He fled?!
If he gets caught, he'll drag us all with him.
What's going on?
Cops are coming with the bus.
Get up. Up!
Run! Run!
What's happening?!
He isn't blind!
He wasn't blind!
Turns out he could see just like the rest of us.
He turned out to be the biggest con artist of all.
Fooled us all. Even the doctor.
Everyone went out running as fast as they could.
We were terrified of being caught.
Even I ran.
I ran away from my wife and the scolding I'd get.
And the scandal that would happen at the school.
We ran in different directions.
You see, if one of us got caught,
he could drag the rest along.
The Polish police went searching for us, but we all escaped.
We were the talk of Egypt and even the international press.
They pretended they were blind and escaped.
-The police didn't catch them? -They vanished into thin air.
IMPOSTERS RUN AWAY IN POLAND AFTER PRETENDING TO BE BLIND.
Those who stayed played the game.
Sameh took place as the goalkeeper.
They won the first game then lost the second.
They never made it to the following round.
Ironically, another Egyptian club made it to the finals and won the championship.
I don't know where or what they are doing
I bet they found some beat-up job here, or there.
The only one I know anything about is Hassan.
Not because we talk. I found him on the internet.
He calls himself "Egyptian cobra."
The dirty bastard.
Oh, my!
Chef Rajif!
Get back here quickly!
Okay, I am coming.
The one I'd love to find
is that rascal Farag.
I'd kill to know what he's up to.