Al Abwab Al Moghkaka (2000)

Synopsis
Egyptian director Atef Hetata debuts with this nuanced, socially-minded drama. Set during the Gulf War, the film focuses on disturbed high schooler Mohamad (Ahmed Azmi) who early on in the film is suspended from school for spying on girls through a hole in the wall. His divorced mother, (Sawsan Badr) who works as a maid, is forced to make sacrifices in order to pay for Mohamad's make-up lessons. As the film progresses, Mohamad's teacher agrees to instruct him for free because he is attracted to his mother. Mohamad's incestuous longings for his mother drive him into a jealous rage. The lad finds his way out of his sexual confusion by wholeheartedly embracing fundamentalism. He falls under the spell of a fanatical Islamic extremist group who encourages him to believe that he has the right to force his mother to wear a veil and to marry a polygamous sheik. This film was screened at the 1999 Thessaloniki Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide