Elegant translation, unexpectedly surreal premise. Warif had been imprisoned for seven years (presumably for writing an anti-Egyptian government Facebook post), where he tries to “will” himself into madness as a way of coping with the solitary confinement, hunger, and despair. It sort of works. Then he is released, back to his girlfriend Sally and an entirely changed cityscape that is shaped by the very sarcastic “suggestion” Warif had for Egypt: that all of its industries be replaced by foreigners. This has happened. There is also a mirror/doubles theme going on, as Warif’s best friend Wagdi is also going through it as Warif tries to reacclimatize to post-prison Egypt. Wagdi goes missing, Warif finds a tunnel with a spool of dead rotting animals at the end (?), and in the final scene, Warif’s emaciated body floats away on a parachute. Lots to think about. Loved the descriptions of Warif’s panic attacks, his attempts to turn himself mad in prison. Sally was an (intentionally?) unsympathetic character (she “worships the god of cruelty,” lovely). Never quite figured out what was going on with the “unplaceable men and transparent women” who interrogate Warif after he is released, and is trying to get his job back as an English translator for some company.