Egyptian actor Ahmed el-Saqqa's new film The Dealer is just like his previous action movies. As if he has nothing new for his fans, he predictably plays the swashbuckling hero who overpowers his violent adversaries after dramatic car chases and punch-ups, as he jumps off high walls and buildings. Haven't we seen those torn shirts and bruises in his previous movies? As usual, el-Saqqa who has established himself over recent years, plays the young man born in a poor district and who has a tough upbringing. In The Dealer, based on a screenplay by Medhat el-Adl, Youssef (Ahmed el-Saqqa) and Ali (Khaled el-Nabawi), who've always hated each other, vie for the affections of their pretty neighbour, Samah (Mayy Selim). It's just like el-Saqqa's earlier film Ibrahim el-Abyad, allegedly the biopic of a hardened thug from a poor district in Giza, south Cairo. In an unconvincing way, Ali wins the heart of the pretty girl, which makes his rival furious. Ali travels with his ‘catch' to the Ukraine, where he runs a business. There's more unconvincing stuff when the spurned lover flies to the same European country, looking for a job. Receiving a tip-off from Ali, the Ukrainian police arrest Youssef in a gambling den. Much to the surprise of the audience, Ali's lover (now his wife) becomes a drug addict. She begs Youssef (now a dealer) to provide her with drugs. Her husband divorces her after she bears him a child. Ali then marries the daughter of an Ukrainian minister and becomes a celebrity. Youssef comes across his former lover in a striptease joint. He vows to help her after she tells him of her sufferings, especially as her ex-husband has taken their child. The two rivals shoot it and Ali dies. Ridiculously, although he is riddled with bullets, his shirt remains spotlessly clean. Before he breathes his last, Ali begs his rival to look after his child. Samah also dies after bearing Youssef a nice child. Youssef then returns to Egypt with the two children. These miserable cut-and-paste incidents are the stuff of The Dealer, directed by Ahmed Saleh. The audience find the drug smuggling in the film more interesting, with the scenes that show how the drug cartels operate. Admittedly, regardless of his supporting role, Khaled el-Nabawi is more impressive than el-Saqqa. El-Nabawi did a crash course in Russian before the movie was shot ��" his language skills are remarkable.
