Night Courier, also known as Mandoob, (Arabic: مندوب الليل) is a 2023 Saudi Arabian black comedy crime thriller film co-written and directed by Ali Kalthami in his directorial debut. Starring Mohamad Aldokhei as a poor, mentally fragile man who sells alcohol at night to pay for his sick father's treatment. It had its world premiere at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2023 as part of the Discovery section.
Synopsis.
Fahad is a 30-year-old man from a lower social class who lives his life under constant pressure due to his job as a customer service in a telecommunications company and because he must obtain money to pay for the treatment of his sick father and help his divorced sister. His situation worsens when he is fired, so he decides to work as a delivery man to save money by entering the nightlife and the business of selling and stealing alcoholic beverages.
Production.
Principal photography took place at the end of 2022, lasting 55 days in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Release.
It had its world premiere on September 8, 2023, at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, then screened on September 29, 2023, at the 19th Zurich Film Festival, on November 29, 2023, at the 41st Torino Film Festival, on January 8, 2024, at the 35th Palm Springs International Film Festival, and on April 24, 2024, at the Malmö Arab Film Festival. It was commercially released on December 14, 2023, in Saudi Arabian theaters, then it was released on January 11, 2024, in the rest of the theaters in the Arab region. International distribution rights were sold to MPM Premium.
Reception.
Box-office.
In its first weekend in theaters, the film sold 114,000 tickets grossing $1.58 million, surpassing "Wonka" and "The Boy and the Heron", becoming the highest opening for a Saudi production. By the end of February 2024, it attracted 605,000 viewers grossing $7.5 million.
References.
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