In one of the first scenes, as Hassan and his mother try to amicably resolve a dispute they both know is impossible, Hassan watches as a cockroach, flipped on its back, is, like him, left helpless and unable to escape.
There are many possible readings of this film, but what struck me personally was the bleak depiction of class differentiation. Hassan is not only emotionally stunted through the separation from his father; he suffers constant reminders of his inadequacy and lack of agency just by existing in poverty. The law does not apply equally to the poor; it will not interfere if he is physically assaulted, his dog is shot, or if his landlord breaches their contract and renders them homeless.
Saving his dog ultimately means handing it over to someone from a different class, someone that primarily lives abroad; all of this taking place in a setting that is a different kind of Egypt, one for the affluent. One that a friend and former love interest was able to move closer to; but not him.
It is only after everything was taken from him and Hassan was left with nothing to lose that he was able to take some agency.
Excellent performance by the lead and beautiful cinematography.