Egyptian society is a tangle of contradictions in this first feature (1999) by Atef Hetata, about a boy torn between Islamic fundamentalism and his awakening sexuality. Set during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait, the film shows its protagonist listening to his favorite cleric, spying on his flirtatious single mother, and dry-humping a prostitute neighbor. Hetata’s story is admirably nuanced, but the film is rhythmically awkward and short on expressive imagery. 109 min.