MovieChat Forums > Cairo Time (2009) Discussion > Young guys following her around...

Young guys following her around...

posted 13 years ago by SpikeHat
4 replies | jump to latest

...because she appears to be not taken or whatever? I know this is supposed to be a cultural "ohh, I see" moment, but she's obviously about 55yrs old. If there are other caucasian women in Cairo, the hounding of PC's character seems unrealistic. Plus, you'd think that her hubby would've given her a clue about that stuff before she flew in. She comes across as a social dolt; she'd probably take a rabbi out for pulled pork.

As for the swarthy/scruffy Tariq, he needs to leave the wife alone when the husband is not around. The husband is likely to kick a guy's ass for making that much time with his wife. I'd be pissed anyway because he kept dogging her to smoke!
And the wife...if you're having problems because your husband can't get away to see you, having a fling with a handy guy is not "romantic". Here's a challenge for Hollywood: Replace Patricia C. with a plain-looking woman who is 100 lbs heavier, then make Tariq's character greasier and missing a few teeth.

How bout the chess match that winds up attracting an enthusiastic croud? Puh-leez. Climb the pyramids in your formal wear? Suuuuure.

[–] LillyAnna80 13 years ago

I was a bit annoyed with that scene as well. I am an American woman, currently living in Saudi Arabia. I *DO* get a lot of looks because I'm very blonde and fair skinned and a few times little girls have followed me around, one even asked to touch my hair.

However, the men do NOT follow me, act creepy, harass me, etc. Granted, Saudi Arabia is much more strict in regards to men talking to women in public but even in Bahrain, which I frequent, it is not how its depicted in the film. Men will often strike up a conversation, ask if I'm American, etc. will shake my hand, etc. but not in the creepy way depicted in the film.

Just my two cents....but for that, I thought the movie did a beautiful job depicting what its like here.

[–] HollyHop 12 years ago

I haven't been to Cairo but the scene strongly reminded me of the harassment I and my fellow female classmates went trough in Morocco. Even the ugliest and heaviest girls got unwanted attention from the men.
We got the impression that they were interested to hook up with us because of our nationality so we used to lie about where we were from.

Don't tell me, it's no use to me. Tell yourself if you want to but don't tell me.

[–] Chops-4 12 years ago

Men in that area, including Italy and Greece, do harass honky broads.

However the status of Tareq being unmarried is very unlikely.

[–] rack_focus 11 years ago

I got the impression he was unmarried because he had spent the last 20 years working for the UN and probably traveling a lot.