Marina Of The Zabbaleen
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Rating: 2.0/5 (1 vote cast)

Enter the exciting and extraordinary world of seven year-old Marina: an Egyptian girl who lives in Cairo, Egypt--the place where the impossible occurs. We follow Marina as she maneuvers her way through Zabbaleen and finds herself in situations that are so unexplainable one might forget they are watching a documentary. Marina Of The Zabbaleen transforms a garbage recycling village to a beautiful fantasy-like portrait of family, childhood and spirituality.
Why It's FilmBuff
Through the life of a child, we can learn so much about our world and this documentary gives us insight into the lives of the most efficient recyclers in the world. Fighting to sweeten the misery surrounding these children, the film inspires us with the buoyancy of the human spirit. With everything that has happened in Egypt in recent years, this is a different lens into the country. Something that allows us to look beyond the critical and political and straight into the hearts of the Egyptians who still reside there.

Tell us what you think
70 mins -
Crew:
  • Director:
    Engi Wassef
  • Writer:
    Engi Wassef
  • Producers:
    Engi Wassef
Film Reviews:
  • "This is no grim, heavy-handed tragedy – rarely has a soundtrack contained more genuine laughter, or a squabbling family shown more love. "
    Screen Daily
  • "The principal strength of Wassef’s debut is its delicate, revealing look at Marina’s life—how it forgoes a more disruptive, self-referential approach (a la Michael Moore) by skillfully utilizing the camera to catch moments from these peoples’ lives as they unfold, no matter how unnerving"
    Slant Magazine
  • " one significantly affecting sequence shows Marina’s landlord bullishly threatening to evict their family as Marina’s mother begs and pleads while the kids look on in a state of horror."
    New York Times
Production Company:
Torch Films
Film Website URL