Best Times
After her mother's death, a successful but lonely Egyptian woman follows mysterious gifts toward renewed friendship and emotional recovery.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- wistful
- reflective evening
- arab cinema showcase
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Salma reconnects with Yusriyah and Doha, whose own hardships create a shared support system after her mother's death.
Anonymous gifts and letters lead Salma to investigate the identity of her benefactor while reconsidering her relationships.
The unexpected death of Salma's mother triggers her emotional tailspin and her eventual reconnection with trusted friends.
Salma's professional success, personal dissatisfaction, family arrangements, and friendships anchor the drama in contemporary Egyptian social life.
Films like Best Times, and why
The Joy Luck Club
women-centered drama about friendship, grief, and rebuilding a personal life through intimate relationships
Girlhood
emotionally grounded female friendship drama in which personal hardship prompts renewed solidarity
The Hours
warm, character-focused drama about women confronting loneliness, identity, and changing life circumstances
Movie Details
- Director
- Hala Khalil
- Release Date
- 2004-04-04
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (23)
Cast
- Hanan Turk
- Hend Sabry
- Menna Shalabi
- Samy El Adl
- Amr Waked
- Khaled Saleh
- Hassan Hosny
- Ahmed Kamal
- Maha Abou Ouf
- Marwa Mehran
Common questions
- What is Best Times about?
- After her mother's death, a successful but lonely Egyptian woman follows mysterious gifts toward renewed friendship and emotional recovery.
- What is Best Times like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Best Times as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Best Times violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Best Times.
- Which films are like Best Times?
- Films with a similar feel include The Joy Luck Club, Girlhood, and The Hours.
- How long is Best Times?
- Best Times runs 113 minutes.
