Clash

The opening film at Arab Film Days 2017 is an intense chamber drama set during the violent demonstrations that led to the ousting of President Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013.

The film has a claustrophobic feel and takes place primarily inside a police van. Due to a misunderstanding, the vehicle is filled with protesters from both sides: half supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and the other half opposing it. This sets the stage for a series of conflicts.

With stunning cinematography and brilliant acting, Clash succeeds in creating an intense chamber drama marked by hatred, chaos, and profound humanity. By focusing on the conflict between supporters and opponents of the Brotherhood, the film tackles one of the most painful and potentially damaging divisions—the very essence of the cultural struggle in the Arab world. Although the film depicts a specific conflict in Egypt that peaked a few years ago, this is a universal story, and the scenarios Diab presents may be closer to home than we’d like to think.

Clash had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section in 2016.

Archive 2017

Director

Mohamed Diab (b. 1978) is an Egyptian filmmaker. He had his breakthrough with his debut film 678 Cairo (2010), which received glowing reviews and numerous awards. Diab has since directed episodes of the Marvel series Moon Knight. His films Amira (2021), Clash (2016), and 678 Cairo have been screened at Arab Film Days.

This film is part of