CLASH

Egypt, 2016, 97 minutes, Colour.
Nelly Karim, Hani Adel.
Directed by Mohammed Diab.


Clash is a topical film, taking audiences back to the end of the presidency of Mubarak, the Arab Spring of the uprising in Cairo. It indicates a change of government but also a reaction against the Muslim Brotherhood, the removal of the president and another government substitution. It also says shows the riots in the streets, the Muslim Brotherhood, the protesters against the Brotherhood.

This film takes place over one day, a glimpse of particular action in Cairo which symbolises the whole protest and uprising. It also takes place on the one set, the inside of the police van.

Initially, two journalists are interned in the van, the police not listening to them. Then other protesters are rounded up, then anti-Muslim Brotherhood protesters as well as Brotherhood adherents. There are fights, squabbles in the van, the journalist photographing, the mobile phone used by various people to try to contact those who could influence their release.

The van becomes full, there is another van across the way and there is some dialogue. However, when squabbles become heavy, the police turn water hoses on everyone in the van.

The various characters, there is a mother who insists on being interned in the van to be with her 14-year-old son. There is a Muslim Brotherhood man with his young veiled daughter (who has a sad sequence where she wants to go to the toilet but is unable).

The van travels throughout the city, the camera taking the point of view of those inside the van observing the police, the writers, guns, the shooting of the driver of the van, fire, the overturning vehicles.

An opportunity to enter into the experience and the high feelings and angers in the Egyptian uprisings and changes of government.


1. An Egyptian story? Topical? The Arab Spring and the change of government in Egypt? The Muslim Brotherhood? The later uprisings and change of Presidents?

2. The structure of the film, over one day, symbolic day?

3. The setting, the interior of the van, the point of view of those looking out through the windows, what was happening outside the van? The musical score?

4. The Egyptian politics, the past presidents and military rule? The rise of the Muslim Brotherhood? The clashes with the government, the stances about Islam? The police, the military? The protesters and the tactics? The counter tactics of the police?

5. The reporters, the American background, the camera, their being taken, arrested, put in the van? Their pleading?

6. The various types going into the van, the protesters, the Muslim Brotherhood, anti-Brotherhood? The child and his father, the mother wanting to be taken, her being put in, protective? The 14-year-old girl and her father? Members of the Muslim Brotherhood?

7. The van, the collection of people, the range of views, a microcosm of the fighters? The police and hosing them down in the van?

8. The police, obeying orders, impervious to pleading?

9. The discussions in the van, the phone calls, getting influential people to try to get them out, the young girl wanting to go to the toilet?

10. The van, the driver, all the protests, different locations, the guns, the shooting of the driver, further arrests, the other buses and talking between the buses, the fire, the crash, the boss overturning?

11. The audiences immersed in the experience, with the characters, the fighting, the clashes?