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Parents' Guide to

Free Trip to Egypt

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Docu about cross-cultural connection promotes empathy.

Movie NR 2019 98 minutes
Free Trip to Egypt Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

age 7+

Excellent movie about stereotypes and understanding other cultures

My kids (9 and 7) really enjoyed this movie. We liked seeing what real families in Egypt live like and how they spend their time. The transformation in the minds of the Americans is predictable but great. My younger child is very sensitive to death - so we were surprised when one of the main american characters dies unexpectedly after the trip. His wife brings his ashes back to Egypt with the help of the film-maker, so it is quite poignant. But I wish I could have given her a heads up before. Great movie.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This film represents a feel-good small step in helping combat the Islamophobia and prejudice that many Americans unfortunately feel toward Muslims and foreigners. It's just too bad that Mounib (whose ability to fund this well-meaning project is never discussed) couldn't convince other Muslim financiers and executives to join him in providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Americans who think that all Muslims and Arabs are fundamentally opposed to the Western world. Of course, it's an even bigger shame that this documentary was even necessary -- and while it tries to stay apolitical, it's clear that President Trump's election rallies were a primary reason that Mounib felt compelled to start the project.

One downside to Free Trip to Egypt is that the group of Americans isn't more diverse: It's really three friends, a married couple, and two individuals. The story would have been even more powerful if, instead of the group of three Louisville pals, there had been three more strangers from different parts of the country. But Ellen and Terry, the older married couple, are particularly fascinating; they acknowledge that they've become xenophobes but don't want to stay that way, partially because their adult child lives in the Middle East. Jason, who never fails to evangelize in any given situation, and Jenna manage to connect with their religious Muslim host family. Brian, meanwhile, stays with a secular/activist young Egyptian woman who has an intelligent, international group of friends. By the end, everyone has predictably changed, believing in the humanity and the beauty of the people and nation of Egypt.

Movie Details

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