Description

Early in Happy Beggars, a motiveless and raw killing is committed in a Cairo brothel. But the actual secret in the centre of Albert Cossery’s wry black comedy isn't the reason for this death but the peculiar wealth found in even the absolute most materially impoverished life.    Key among Cossery’s happy beggars is Gohar, a former teacher switched whorehouse cpa, hashish fan, and road thinker. Such is his indigenous appeal that he's gathered a little coterie that contains Yeghen, a rhapsodic poet and drug supplier, and El Kordi, an useless worker and would be progressive who dreams of saving a consumptive prostitute. Law enforcement detective Nour El Eat, harboring a dark secret of their own, suspects all three of the homicide but finds herself fascinated by their warm good humor.