Yasmine Al Massri’s Drama ‘Thank You for Banking With Us’ Opens in Nairobi

Yasmine Al Massri, the Lebanese-Palestinian-French actress known for her captivating performances, is bringing her latest drama, Thank You for Banking With Us, to Nairobi’s Unseen Cinema. Running through June, the film will clock in 22 screenings, offering Kenyan audiences a firsthand look at a Cairo-set inheritance tale.

Plot Overview

Thank You for Banking With Us unfolds in contemporary Cairo, where two sisters, Maryam and Noura, find themselves locked in a race against time. Their father’s sudden passing leaves behind a modest portfolio of assets, and each sister believes she has the strongest claim. Maryam, the elder and more business-minded sibling, pushes for a swift resolution through legal channels. Noura, driven by sentiment and memories, appeals for an equal share, hoping to honor their father’s memory. The arrival of their older brother, a globe-trotting expatriate, threatens to upend both their plans and their fragile bond. The promotional poster poses the film’s central question: “Will Maryam and Noura secure their late father’s inheritance before their brother returns from abroad?”

Nairobi Screenings

The Nairobi engagement opened on June 1 at Unseen Cinema, a boutique venue in Kilimani dedicated to independent and international films. Over the course of June, the drama will feature 22 screenings at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. every weekday, with additional matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are selling through the Unseen website and at the theater’s box office, with a discounted rate for students and film society members. Organizers emphasize that this is one of the few opportunities in East Africa to see a recent Cairo production on the big screen.

Local Reaction

Early showings have drawn a mix of cinephiles and casual viewers. In a social media post, one audience member wrote, “It’s refreshing to see a family drama set against the modern Cairo skyline. The sisters’ dynamics felt genuine.” Another praised the film’s score and cinematography, noting how the soundtrack underscores the emotional stakes without overshadowing the performances. Nairobi-based film critic Daniel Otieno called it “a concise, well-acted exploration of inheritance and identity” that “resonates beyond its Egyptian setting.”

Festival Run

Before arriving in Nairobi, the film made rounds at select Middle Eastern festivals. It was screened at an industry showcase in Cairo earlier this year and later appeared in a cultural program in Amman. Its minimalist direction and strong central cast drew praise from regional critics. Producers have described Nairobi as a strategic stop, aiming to bridge North African and East African audiences.

About Yasmine Al Massri

Born in Beirut to Palestinian parents and raised in Paris, Yasmine Al Massri studied dance at the École Nationale Supérieure de Danse de Cannes before transitioning to acting. She gained early recognition in Fatih Akin’s The Cut, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2014. On television, she broke into the U.S. market portraying twin FBI recruits on ABC’s Quantico, showcasing her versatility in drama and action. Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, Al Massri frequently selects roles that explore themes of diaspora, family, and belonging.

Throughout her career, she has balanced independent art-house projects with higher-profile series such as The Looming Tower. On her Instagram (@jazmasri), she shares behind-the-scenes glimpses, cultural commentary, and advocacy for refugee causes. In the caption announcing the Nairobi screenings, she thanked fans and local organizers: “Thank You for Banking With Us is now screening at Unseen Cinema in Nairobi, Kenya with 22 screenings in June 🎬.”

Audiences in Nairobi will now have the chance to engage with a film that blends universal themes of loss and legacy with the textures of everyday life in Cairo. With its limited East African run, Thank You for Banking With Us may spark conversations around family bonds, legal disputes, and the ways in which global travel reshapes our connections to home.

Reporter

Reshmi Das

 

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.

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