Short synopsis : Writer-director Abu Bakr Shawky follows his acclaimed Yomeddine with a new story of friendship, adversity and determination set between Egypt and Austria in the late 20th century.

Long synopsis : Egypt. Summer 1967. Ahmed receives a letter from Austria - Liz has replied to his search for a pen pal. They begin a long-distance friendship that is viewed with suspicion by his relatives. From this summer onwards, Ahmed’s efforts to become a pianist despite his humble social background will gain an unstoppable momentum, as Liz pushes him towards his elusive goal: a public concert. Together, with this shared dream always in mind, Ahmed and Liz will live through war, family joys, opposition and dramas, failures and triumphs that rocked Egypt until the 1980s.

Cast

• Amir El Masry, Valérie Pachner, Nelly Karim, Ahmed Kamal, Khaled Mokhtar, Ahmed Azaar, Hassan El Adl, Karim Kassem, Johannes Krisch, Maria Hofstätter

Crew

• Producer(s): Julie Viez, Mohamed Hefzy, Alexander Glehr, Olivier Guerpillon, Marta Reguerra Gutiez
• Director(s): Abu Bakr Shawky
• Screenplay: Abu Bakr Shawky
• DP: Wolfgang Thaler
• Set Design: Hend Heider
• Costume Designer: Reem El Adl

• Production company: Cinenovo, Film Clinic, Film AG, Fox in the Snow films, Wrong Men
• Language: Arabic, English, German