Films have always told stories drawn from real life, but some go even further, documenting true events that once unfolded around us. Here are five films that carried the phrase: based on a true story.
“The Black Tiger” | 1984
The film follows the journey of the Egyptian young man Mohamed Hassan, who travels to Germany for a job opportunity but faces a series of obstacles before meeting the elderly boxing coach Costa, who decides to turn him into a champion.
The film is based on the true story of Egyptian professional boxer Mohamed Hassan El Masry, who competed in a large number of official tournaments in Germany and won many of them.
The film stars Ahmed Zaki, Ahmed Mazhar, and Wafaa Salem, and is directed by Atef Salem.
“His Excellency the Minister” | 2003
The film tells the story of Raafat Rostom, who is appointed to a ministerial position by mistake because his name matches that of another man. But as his life begins to shift, he is haunted by nightmares, which lead him to confess his secrets to his office manager.
The film is based on a real incident that took place during Hosni Mubarak’s era, and the man at the center of the story became known in political circles as “the accidental minister.”
The film stars Ahmed Zaki and Yousra, and is directed by Samir Seif.
“Tito” | 2004
The film tells the story of a boy who grows up in a juvenile detention center after committing murder. Once released, he joins a gang that carries out robberies, but when he decides to start a new life, he discovers that leaving the past behind is not easy.
The idea of the film was inspired by reality through an interview conducted by journalist Mofeed Fawzy with juvenile detainees on his famous program Hadith Al Madina.
The film stars Ahmed El Sakka, Khaled Saleh, and Hanan Turk, and is directed by Tarek El Arian.
“The Island” | 2007
The film traces the rise and fall of Mansour El Hefny, who inherits his family’s criminal empire of arms and drug trafficking. Because of his activities, he finds himself entangled in conflicts with several opposing forces.
The events are inspired by the story of Ezzat Hanafy, who imposed his control over El Nakhila Island in Assiut Governorate and became widely known in the media as “the Emperor of El Nakhila.” He was arrested in 2004 and executed alongside his brother in 2006.
The film stars Ahmed El Sakka, Hend Sabry, and Mahmoud Yassin, and is directed by Sherif Arafa.
“Asmaa” | 2011
The film follows a rural woman named Asmaa, who is diagnosed with HIV and tries to hide it from everyone around her. When she needs surgery, doctors refuse to treat her out of fear of infection, until she finally decides to appear on television and share her story with society.
The film is inspired by the true story of a woman living with HIV. It also featured a number of real HIV patients in an attempt to confront society and challenge its perception of them.
The film stars Hend Sabry and is directed by Amr Salama.
