Nelly Karim and Fathy Abdel Wahab Guest Star in Film “The Goat”

Egyptian stars Nelly Karim and Fathy Abdel Wahab are guest starring in the highly-anticipated star-studded film “The Goat”.

The film boasts an ensemble of talented actors, including Amr Saad, John Savage, Mira Sorvino, Sayed Ragab, Jessica Hossam, Maya Talem, and Arfah Abdulrasool. 

"The Goat" focuses on many important societal issues, most notably child marriage and exposing fraudulent mineral water companies.

The multi-hyphenate is a rare, if not unique, case of an Arab production directed by an Italian. The film stars young Egyptian TikTok star Jessica Hosam as an 11-year-old pregnant orphan named Hadya who after being forced into marriage becomes the target of a Western corporation that seeks to control the only water source in her village. She escapes into the desert with her goat on a journey in search of her father.

“She takes the road to freedom alone with her goat whose milk she will use to survive. Sometimes when she drinks the milk she feels her mum is talking to her,” according to the film’s provided logline.

“The Goat” aims to question “‘civilized Western countries" and all of those who live in them about their role in the appropriation of the natural resources of poorer countries.

It also shines a spotlight on barbaric traditions still practiced in so many areas of the world that devastate the young women and girls in these communities.

Savage plays the CEO of a U.S. multinational company that wants to take over the village’s spring to produce fancy bottled mineral water; Sorvino plays the company’s engineer; Egyptian star Saad plays Hadya’s father.

"The Goat" is written and directed by Italian filmmaker Ilaria Borrelli. It is supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture and co-production between Egypt, America, France, and Italy.

It is a co-production between Egypt’s Agora Media Production and France’s Domedo Productions in collaboration with Italy’s Orange Media and producer Oscar Generale, plus Lebanon’s Cedars Art Production (Sabbah Brothers) and U.S. company Pantheon Entertainment, and with support from Italy’s culture ministry.

“The Goat” is set for back-to-back launches at the 6th El Gouna Film Festival, followed by the closing film slot at the Rome Film Festival.