critics consensus

Clash is far from an easy watch, but the story's ripped-from-the-headlines energy more than makes up for its unrelentingly grim tone and sketchily developed characters. Read critic reviews

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Clash Photos

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Movie Info

Pro-and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators are brought together in the back of a police van after a July 2013 demonstration following the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood member.

Genre:

drama, mystery & thriller
Original Language:

Arabic
Director:

Mohamed Diab
Producer:

Mohamed Hefzy, Eric Lagesse, Moez Masoud
Writer:

Khaled Diab, Mohamed Diab
Release Date (Theaters):

Aug 25, 2017 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Oct 26, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA):

$18.0K
Runtime:

1h 38m
Production Co:

NiKo Film, arte France Cinéma
Aspect Ratio:

Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Nelly Karim
Nagwa

Hani Adel
Adam

El Sebaii Mohamed
Zein

Ahmed Abdelhamid Hefny
Awad

Ahmed Dash
Faris

Ahmed Malek
Mans

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News & Interviews for Clash

Leap! Falls Flat

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Critic Reviews for Clash

All Critics (45) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (42) | Rotten (3)

Arguably one of the most important Egyptian filmmakers currently working today, Mohamed Diab is an unflinching director who does not shy away from explicit commentary about current events in his homeland.

September 5, 2018 | Full Review…

Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
The Blue Lenses
The van becomes a microcosm of the world outside: chaotic, out of control, cruel, but broken intermittently by glimpses of humour and humanity.

July 24, 2018 | Full Review…

Namrata Joshi
The Hindu
Within this roiling Petri dish, the filmmakers cultivate a dynamic portrait of Egypt, with its dense social, political and religious layers.

September 14, 2017 | Full Review…

Kevin Crust
Los Angeles Times
Its limited point-of-view says enough to the original horror and poignantly makes humanity a non-political issue.

August 25, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Nick Allen
RogerEbert.com
A film like this needs its people to underline what it means to be human during times of political strife, but with so many bodies shoved inside the van, it's difficult to keep track of who's who and why they're mad.

August 23, 2017 | Full Review…

Kristen Yoonsoo Kim
Village Voice
"Clash" turns into a full-fledged horror movie, albeit one without the fake comfort of a supernatural or science-fiction pretext. It's just man's inhumanity to man, in full sway.

August 22, 2017 | Full Review…

Glenn Kenny
New York Times
Mohamed Diab exploits his film's restricted location with brio. And captures a searing snapshot of a divided nation.

December 20, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Jason Best
What's On TV
Clash - original title Eshtebak - is a terrific technical achievement and amazingly gripping, given the restricted setting.

November 17, 2018 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Alexa Dalby
Dog and Wolf
Shocking and inventive, Clash is a fascinating and immersive watch that holds up its style of filming remarkably well.

August 24, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Stephanie Watts
One Room With A View
[Director Mohamed] Diab (who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Khaled Diab) doesn't side with or against anyone ... [T]he filmmaker is on the side of humanity.

September 15, 2017 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies
It's not a pleasant ride-you'll be relieved when you can escape this patrol wagon from hell. But Diab has created a thought-provoking and timely hell all the same.

September 15, 2017 | Full Review…

Janet Smith
Georgia Straight
While there's not much room for character development amid the chaos, the unsettling film is provocative without resorting to heavy-handed contrivances.

September 8, 2017 | Full Review…

Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue