Garbage Dreams

2009

1h 22m

Documentary

List

100%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A look into the lives of Egyptian trash collectors.

V.A. Musetto

New York Post

Who knew that people could love their garbage so much that they grow angry when it is taken from them?

Rated: 3/4

Jan 8, 2010

Full Review

Joe Neumaier

New York Daily News

The film isn't easy to watch, but its portrait of perseverance and ecological commitment is enlightening.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 8, 2010

Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

Expertly weaving personal fears, family tensions and political action (the zabbaleen don(TM)t whine; they strive to modernize), Garbage Dreams records the tremblings of a culture at a crossroads.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 8, 2010

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Simultaneously charming and a bit humbling.

Rated: 3.0/4.0

Sep 8, 2020

Full Review

Jennifer Merin

About.com

In this compelling documentary, director Mai Iskander follows three teenage Egyptian boys who eke out a living by collecting garbage, but dream of finding their way to a cleaner, easier way of life.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 7, 2010

Full Review

Edward Douglas

ComingSoon.net

Successfully shows another side of society that feels foreign and unfamiliar at first, but one that's infinitely more interesting when put into context of our own lives.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 5, 2010

Full Review

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Audience Member

Absolutely fascinating story on how a "recycling" system came about in Cairo out of poverty. Essentially the poor recycled so that they could get a few pennies to make it through their daily lives. Incredible.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A gripping and unflinching look at life for this struggling group. I was glad for the inclusion of the female social worker as otherwise it would have felt very masculine dominated which is true to the culture, I suppose. Worth a view for anyone who has been to Cairo.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

About 25 minutes of story stretched to 80 by pure repetition.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I am very proud by this film. Even though I claim to be a middle class Egyptian but I didn't knew before I see this film about the world of Al-Zabaleen area in Manshyiet Naser neighborhood. Mai Iskander have done a good effort to show these people for real we're all wondering how she managed to bring the humanity side from those boys on the surface. And how much it was inspiring to see those people try to develop themselves & get respect from the society. The revolution have erupted here in Egypt for those people the nothing class & hope by time they'll get all their rights soon.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Story of the Christian garbage collectors in Cairo. Their livelihoods are being threatened by new foreign garbage collecting companies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Full of life and hope This film should be seen by the Y generation who are into themselves and obsessed with anything for show that scream "Look at me!"

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

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Mai Iskander

Director

Mai Iskander

Screenwriter

Mai Iskander

Producer

Tiffany Schauer

Executive Producer

Raz Mesinai

Original Music

Mai Iskander

Cinematographer

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Synopsis

A look into the lives of Egyptian trash collectors.

Director: Mai Iskander
Producer: Mai Iskander
Screenwriter: Mai Iskander
Production Co: Chicken & Egg Pictures
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 22m