“Birthday wishes come true”, that’s the central message of Sarah Gohar’s debut feature film. Happy Birthday explores the reality of child labour and class in Cairo. A heartfelt story that dives deep into child labour, childhood, class, and the unseen burdens placed on young shoulders in Cairo.
The film premiered during the opening ceremony of El Gouna Film Festival, leaving the audience deeply moved as they exited the plaza, visibly touched by the emotional rollercoaster they had just witnessed.
A Glimpse Inside the Storyline
Happy Birthday follows the story of Toha (played by rising star Doha Ramadan), an 8-year-old housemaid working in an upper-class Cairo home. She’s responsible for managing the household and keeping everything spotless. From the very first scenes, the film introduces the genuine friendship between Toha and the family’s daughter Nelly (played by Khadheeja Ahmed), who is also eight years old.
Toha goes out of her way to make Nelly’s birthday party perfect, helping Nelly’s mother (Nelly Karim) and grandmother (Hanan Youssef) with every detail. She uses her street-smart sales skills, emotional intelligence, and pure-hearted determination to make the day happen. But as the preparation ends, Toha learns that she’s being sent home that very night, with no sign of the one wish she was promised by Nelly.
Through Toha’s eyes, we experience two vastly different worlds- hers and Nelly’s. Despite the emotional and physical weight placed on her young shoulders, Toha’s love for Nelly and the family shines through. Even when treated harshly by the grandmother, she continues to wish for the stability and love she sees in that home, a stark contrast to the life she was born into.
The Strong Protagonist
Doha Ramadan’s performance is brilliant — an ode to every strong girl forced to take on adult responsibilities without choosing them. We feel her emotions when she visits an expensive place and becomes lost in awe. Her eyes light up as she sees the colorful birthday section, full of pink tiaras and candles.
She carries an independence no 8-year-old should have.The sorrow and sense of duty she feels are far too much for her age. She’s a housemaid, a salesperson, and has the mindset of a grown-up when it comes to planning how she’ll make it back to her friend’s party.
Toha’s journey is full of emotional ups and downs, shaped by the places she finds herself in. Her performance was deeply believable. You could see the craving for safety and love written all over her face, and she expressed it without needing words. this showcases how Happy Birthday, explores the reality of child labour and class in Cairo.
The Two Worlds of the Same Cairo
The movie shows us two very different versions of life in Cairo — Toha’s and Nelly’s — in a fair and balanced way.
We see Nelly’s mother (Nelly Karim) trying to rebuild her life after separating from her husband, while the grandmother tries to bring them back together by throwing an extravagant birthday party and maxing out the mother’s credit card in the process.
Toha explores this new world, a massive and expensive building filled with shiny stores. She experiences classism firsthand when a store owner looks down on her. But in that moment, the mother stands up for Toha and threatens the shop with the power of social media, a moment that highlights both privilege and protection.
Then, the film takes us into Toha’s real world, where her mother (Hanan Motawaa) shines with a powerful and emotional performance. They live by the Nile, catching fish to make ends meet. Without a man in the picture, they rely on each other. Toha works hard to help her family survive, and we understand why she acts like an adult, because she has no other choice.
The Obstacles to Make a Wish
The road back to the party wasn’t easy for Toha, but she took it and brought us along with her. All she wanted was to help and to receive her one birthday wish. Through the screenwriting of Mohamed Diab and Sarah Gohar, we see how she is still just a child who believes in promises and birthday magic.
The ending shows how she learns a tough lesson and that sometimes, lessons come with disappointment.
The Directing and Symbolism
Sarah Gohar’s directorial debut is both moving and visually symbolic. She masterfully weaves together themes of water, illusion, and reality — showing Toha imagining herself underwater, only to later reveal her real-life connection to the Nile as a child of a fisherman family.
The film unfolds completely through Toha’s perspective. She listens, observes, and processes her world with quiet wisdom, making her one of the most emotionally complex child characters seen in Egyptian cinema in recent years.
The supporting cast also delivers exceptional performances. Nelly Karim’s role as the conflicted mother makes us both sympathize and feel frustrated with her choices. Hanan Motawaa shines as Toha’s real mother, hardened by life but filled with unconditional love. And young Khadheeja Ahmed as Nelly brings innocence and complexity to a privileged child who doesn’t yet grasp the full weight of class difference — yet still sees Toha as her true friend.
International Recognition & What’s Next
Happy Birthday has already made waves on the international film circuit. At the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, the film took home three major awards:
- Best International Feature
- Best International Screenplay
- The Nora Ephron Award (for Best Female Director)
The film is co-written by Sarah Gohar and Mohamed Diab (known for 678 and Clash), and Diab also serves as executive producer. Producers include Ahmed El Desouky, Ahmed Abbas, Ahmed Badawy, Datari Turner, and American actor and producer Jamie Foxx.
Starring Nelly Karim, Hanan Motawea, Hanan Youssef, and the phenomenal newcomer Doha Ramadan, the film leaves us asking:
“Can a birthday really change how a child sees the world?”
Coming Soon to Cinemas – And A Potential Oscar Entry
Happy Birthday will soon hit cinemas across Egypt and beyond. It has also been selected as Egypt’s official Oscar submission, and rightfully so.
It’s a story that tackles deep societal issues through the lens of innocence, love, and quiet resilience. A film that deserves to be seen, remembered, and celebrated.
Don’t miss it when it arrives in theaters.