Voy! Voy! Voy!
How far would you go to change your life? In Egypt’s official Oscar® submission, Hassan is desperate to leave his home country. With few options left, he pretends to be blind so he can join a disabled soccer team headed to Poland. Inspired by an unbelievable true story.
Stuck in a dead-end job, in a country with perpetually high unemployment and lack of opportunity, Egyptian security guard Hassan has decided his only option is to head for the West. But how to get there? At first it seems like the elderly British tourist he’s been romancing might want to bring him back with her to the UK—until her abrupt demise puts an end to that plan. He considers being smuggled out of the country, but the price is high and the risks decidedly unappealing. One day, he comes across an ad recruiting visually impaired players for Egypt’s national blind soccer team. Apart from the fact that he’s not visually impaired, it’s perfect; the team is preparing to travel to Poland for the Blind World Cup. The coach, who has his own financial struggles, welcomes Hassan to the team—he’s suspiciously coordinated, but gives the team a distinct advantage. For his part, Hassan thinks he’s pulling a fast one, but surprises lie in store, for him and for the audience. Based on an improbably true story, Voy! Voy! Voy! is part laugh-out-loud comedy, part sports drama, and part conman caper—all with an undercurrent of hard truths about poverty and what people will do to escape it.
- Original Language Title: فوي! فوي! فوي!
- Director: Omar Hilal
- Principal Cast: Mohamed Farrag, Nelly Karim, Bayoumi Fouad, Taha Desouky, Amgad El-Haggar
- Country: Egypt, United Arab Emirates
- Year: 2023
- Running Time: 109 min.
- Producer: Mohamed Hefzy, Omar Hilal, Inas Nagi
- Screenplay: Omar Hilal
- Cinematographers: Yves Sehnaoui
- Editors: Ahmed Hafez
- Music: Sary Hany
- Website: Official Film Website
- Awards: Official Academy Awards® Submission 2024 (International Feature)
- Filmography: Debut Feature Film
- Language: Arabic
- Has Subtitles: Yes
- International Sales: AGC Studios