In the wake of the ouster of Islamist president Morsi, a police van full of detained demonstrators of divergent political and religious backgrounds roams through violent protests. There, in the small enclosed quarters of the police van, Diab offers a microcosm of modern Egypt, with Muslim Brotherhood members sharing space with pro-military supporters and activists; men, women and children. All part of a new and chaotic Egypt, a caldron waiting to boil. Can the detainees overcome their differences to stand a chance of survival?
"The film shows what happened after Morsi’s deposition, the demonstrations that set Cairo on fire and the casualties that followed. But one should choose one’s words carefully, because Egypt is really black-and-white right now. For instance, if you use the word ‘coup’ to describe Morsi’s removal from office, your choice of word deems you are on the Muslim Brotherhood side; likewise if you refer to it as a ‘revolution’, that word would deem you to be on the military side. I would like people to watch my film without wondering all the time which side I am on. It isn’t a film about politics, it is a film about the human rather than the political aspect of things."
(Mohamed Diab)
Mohamed Diab
Born in Ismailia, Egypt, Diab’s work is often centred on pressing issues concerning Egyptian society. He is known for his directorial debut, Cairo 678, which was released a month before the Egyptian revolution, a drama about three women who unite to fight against the plague of male chauvinism in Cairo. Aside from filmmaking, Diab is known for his involvement in the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Clash, his second feature film, was selected for the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
