Through the eyes of a child the world can seem so soft, tender and innocent. Yet in reality, we live in a dark place. A place where those of us who are more fortunate are not aware of how much we take for granted. A classist set of things are what we live with every day, not even bothering to think of those who have so much less. In her directorial debut, Happy Birthday, Sarah Goher explores classism within modern-day Cairo. But what comes out of it can be reflected upon by everyone all over the world.
Befriending her wealthy employer’s daughter, Nelly (Khadheeja Ahmed), child maid Toha (Doha Ramadan) will stop at nothing to make sure her friend gets the birthday she deserves. Having never celebrated or known her birthday, it is through Nelly that Toha discovers this beautiful celebration. She becomes infatuated with blowing out a candle and making a wish. To ensure she is able to do so, she convinces Nelly’s mother Laila (Nelly Karim) and grandmother (Hanan Youssef) to allow the birthday to go off without a hitch.
There are things adults may not fully understand, especially us with such privilege. But through the eyes of a child, we are able to empathize so much more. This idea of classism in Cairo comes across so much stronger as it is experienced through a little girl. It causes more emotion to be drawn out in the audience and a sadness to linger as well. This tender story needs to be reflected upon, but its message might not have hit the viewer so strongly without a child protagonist. As the world is experienced through the eyes of a child, more is at stake than should it have been an adult. They have their whole lives ahead of them, but for something so dark to be made evident at such a young age, it is all the more heartbreaking.
The idea of class becomes apparent as Toha’s ties with the family deepen. Her own family live in a darker and dirtier area of Cairo compared to those she works for. A happy family living in practically an estate, Toha does not wish to return home. But as the difference in class emerges, Toha becomes exposed to the harsh realities of her world. Sent home instead of staying for the party, it is now up to Toha to sneak back to be able to make the one wish she was promised.
So much is woven within Happy Birthday in such a clever way. Through such a tender, soft and childish opening, Toha and Nelly are introduced to the audience. At first it appears all is right with the world. But as the truth and circumstance is revealed to the audience, Toha’s innocence begins to become something else.
For her writing and directorial debut, Goher knows how to subtly drop hints to the viewer. Goher’s methods are first revealed to the audience as we see Toha find out what a birthday wish is. As Westerners, for sure, we take for granted something as small as a birthday. In Cairo, it becomes clear that the less fortunate might not even know their specific date of birth. There are many other places where something that seems so mundane to us, might be the thing that makes their year.
Not only does Happy Birthday mark a directorial debut for Sarah Goher, but it marks the acting debut of young Doha Ramadan. Found through casting on the streets, she delivers the performance needed for the film. To understand Goher’s message, the audience needed to connect with Toha. Ramadan allowed for this to happen, and also brought so much more. While Toha has spunk to her, she remains too young to truly understand the complications of the world around her. But as she spends this one day with a family that is not hers, the audience is able to experience what is happening through her. We are shown the classist nature of people and how this goes unnoticed.
Ultimately no one is going to take into account the feelings of a child. Yet in cinema, seeing the world unfold through the eyes of a kid makes all the difference. It becomes shoved down our throats, the idea of classism. How fortunate we all forget we are. We are reminded of how much we take for granted as we see a child’s dreams crushed in front of her.
Winner of three awards at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, Happy Birthday is Egypt’s entry at the 2026 Academy Awards. Through the eyes of a child, Sarah Goher takes the audience on an exploration of the class system and the realities of privilege. With a stunning and tender performance from lead actor Doha Ramadan, Happy Birthday shares an important message with the audience. The Leeds International Film Festival saw this and chose to screen it as part of their Constellation Feature Film Competition. Be sure to watch Happy Birthday if, or when, it releases near you in the future.