CLASH (aka ESHTEBAK) (ARABIC) (2016)

What is the essence of democracy ? Is democracy the best system for all countries at all times ? What happens if a democracy is denuded to a state where it is merely a form of majoritarian rule with scant regard for the rights and aspirations of its citizenry and especially, those of the minorities ? In such a case, would it be any different or better than an authoritarian regime ?

After almost three decades of dictatorial reign, when the government of President Hosni Mubarak was overthrown by the events following Tahrir Square in  2011, popular elections brought Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood to power in Egypt. However, his radical religious agenda drove a deep wedge in a multi-ethnic society and after a popular, violent uprising by his opponents in 2013, the army took control. This pushed the country on the brink of civil war. Egypt became a chaotic crucible and was enveloped in a season of daily protests on the streets between supporters of Muslim Brotherhood who felt that their democratically elected government was unfairly unseated and supporters of the army who sought an end to the fundamentalist regime of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The film captures one such day when protests break out in various parts of Cairo between these opposing factions. The entire movie is set and has been filmed within the confines of a police van which has been deployed on the street. While it starts with the arrest of an Egyptian born journalist working with the Associated Press covering the clashes along with his local freelance cameraman, the van is quickly filled up with a motley assembly of people cutting across the spectrum of age, economic status and owing their allegiance to either side of the ideological divide. Tempers fray with the supporters of Muslim Brotherhood and the pro-army group find themselves at each other's throats and find that their strength of ideological conviction is put to a litmus test by this sticky situation. As the cops try to shepherd the police van to safety traversing through treacherous streets of midtown Cairo filled with rioting mobs, the van - literally as well as figuratively - becomes a simmering cauldron ready to explode.  

While at an apparent level, it is a clash between competing factions which seek to wrest power, at another deeper level, it is equally a clash between ideologies that we espouse, which tend to define us and appropriate our entire identities with the basic ethos of humanity which resonate across competing and often contrasting ideologies, geographies or for that matter, any other divides. Thus, despite being set in Cairo, the movie strikes a near universal resonance, especially given the politically charged climes that we inhabit.

Director Diab's ambitious narrative is replete with frenetic riot sequences, sniper shootings, stonings, water canons, laser strobe lights and tear-gas clouds which are captured in full blooded intensity from within the confines of the van by cinematographer Ahmed Gabr's adroit handheld camerawork. Despite being a serious movie set to the pulse of a racy thriller, it incorporates a healthy dose of humour in the interactions and the inherent contradictions between the ideologies professed and the behaviour forced by the circumstances. It also underlines the enduring nature of humanity that triumphs over all obstacles like a stubborn plant which challenges and survives on the rock face even as there are undercurrents of anxiety which are lurking just below the surface and which are capable of unleashing the inherent animal instincts which are susceptible to be stoked by mob mentality. Diab populates the movie with engaging characters which we could connect to and the fact that his narrative shuns siding with any particular group enhances its universal appeal.

While the constricted confines of the police van creates a claustrophobic atmospheric through the entire movie, director Mohamed Diab ensures that the setting adds far greater value than merely being a gimmick. In a way, the confined space of the police van in Clash is also a stark metaphor of a country which stands on a precipice with little room to maneuver. A country which finds that a much vaunted political spring after decades of repression has failed to heal the fissures that divide the society. This has, in turn, resulted in deep distrust in each other, a sense of hopelessness and frustration which feed into a vicious cycle of acrimony and chaos that permeate this society. The movie is also peppered with instances where the occupants of the van display rays of kindness, humanity and humour which shines through the clouds of conflict that threaten to eclipse their inherent goodness. 

Clash presents a heady concoction filled with multiple ingredients that have come to define the times that we live in - chaos, hopelessness, frustration, mistrust and humanity which has the potential to shine through even the thickest veneers of ideological convictions that seek to derail our rationality.

Thanks to the universal appeal, Clash has received multiple laurels at film festivals across the world. It was screened as the opening movie at the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes 2016 and was the winner of Best Film and Audience Award at the recently concluded International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK),  2016. It was also selected as the official Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards.

In conclusion, I couldn't agree more with Tom Hanks who has praised the film by saying - 

"If there's any way you can see Clash by Egyptian director Mohamed Diab, you must. You simply must. The film will break your heart, but enlighten all."

A MUST WATCH !!

RATING - 4.5/5