- Title: Stars of Egyptian film 'Eshtebak' gather in Cannes
- Date: 15th May 2016
- Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 13, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR, MOHAMED DIAB, SAYING: "Until now people who have seen the film, from Egypt here in Cannes, thank God they liked the film, and they told me great things, really positive words. But this film, I knew from the first day that I made it, that it would be confusing, and it will confuse people and not everyone will like it.''
- Embargoed: 30th May 2016 14:25
- Keywords: Cannes Un Certain Regard Eshtebak Clash Egypt Arab Spring
- Location: CANNES, FRANCE / VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
- City: CANNES, FRANCE / VARIOUS FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA0074HX20K5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Described by many as the hidden gem of the festival, Egyptian riot film 'Eshtebak' or 'Clash' opened in Cannes.
The film is a contender for the Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
'Eshtebak' marks a return of Egyptian cinema in this part of the competition since Yousry Nasrallah's 'After the Battle' in 2012.
Cast and crew from the movie gathered on stage at the opening ceremony of the Un Certain Regard competition where the film's director Mohamed Diab spoke of his pride and thanked all those involved in the film's making.
Set after the removal of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Eshtebak follows a group of protesters from all sides of the political spectrum who find themselves locked up together in the same prison van.
Diab said that people will view his film as 'controversial' but that he hopes it will 'upset everyone equally'.
With the entire movie being filmed from within the prison van, shooting it was a highly demanding process, said actress Nelly Karim.
"It was a pleasure for me but of course I know that it's going to be very difficult because to shoot the whole movie in one car, in close place with too many people and especially Egypt is very hot, it's like outside it's 40 degrees so in the car with the electricity it's like 50 degrees. But thanks god with shooting it wasn't so hot," she said.
''I don't think the film is political as much as it is a human film, because the film shows how we are living, that we have different points of view, different political opinions, different religions. But in the end, we're all human, we all want to live a better life and I see that God willing we'll pass, and the country will be better and better,'' Karim added.
Egypt has had a turbulent political path since the 2011 revolution that toppled autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak, ending his 30-year rule of the north African state.
Now with another former military strongman in power, Diab said events in the country have had a great impact on a generation of young Egyptians. But he still remains hopeful.
''The five years that passed were extremely difficult years for all Egyptians, especially the generation that was involved the revolution, who felt as though they reached the sky and then fell. That's a generation that needs treatment and is tired. Half of us have this new influenza, this depression. All young Egyptians have depression, the new generation especially. The film for me, it was a kind of self-treatment, a kind of valediction message to -- I don't want to say the revolution, because I always have hope,'' he said.
Emotionally charged throughout, the film is an attempt to get members of Egypt's fractured society to identify with each others' positions, said Diab.
This is Diab's second film, his first film 'Cairo 678' focussed on another topical issue, sexual harassment in Egypt. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None