COMPLAINT NO. 713317

Egypt I 2025 I Arabic dialogue with English subtitles l 80 min

ABOUT FILM

Egyptian director Yasser Shafiey delivers a striking and original feature debut with Complaint No. 713317, a film that transforms an ordinary domestic irritation into a resonant social narrative. The movie had its world premiere at the 46th Cairo International Film Festival, screening in the Arab Cinema Horizons section where it won the Best Screenplay Award for its sharp writing and distinctive voice.

Set in the quiet streets of Cairo’s Maadi district, the story follows Magdy and Sama, a retired couple in their sixties whose calm life is disrupted when their refrigerator breaks down. What begins as a small inconvenience soon balloons into a months-long bureaucratic and existential struggle with a dubious maintenance company, exposing the couple to absurd obstacles that reveal deeper cracks in everyday life and human relationships.

Inspired by a personal experience of the filmmaker, the title reflects an actual complaint file number, grounding the story in lived reality while expanding it into a universal exploration of frustration and perseverance.

More than a simple domestic tale, Complaint No. 713317 uses its deceptively ordinary premise to explore the absurdity of modern bureaucracy, the tension between love and routine in long-term relationships, and the emotional toll of ageing in a changing society. The narrative balances deadpan humour and poignant drama, creating a layered portrait of contemporary life in Egypt.

Following its success in Cairo, the film continued its international journey with its international premiere at the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam in the prestigious Bright Future competition, a platform known for celebrating bold debut features and new voices in cinema.

With an accomplished ensemble cast including Mahmoud Hemida, Sherine, Hana Shiha, Mohamed Radwan, Ali El‑Tayeb, Enam Salousa, and Hanan Wasfy, the film has resonated with audiences and critics alike, marking Complaint No. 713317 as one of the most compelling Egyptian films of recent years.