Clash (2016)
A suffocating Egyptian thriller that traps opposing political factions inside a single police truck during Cairo's most volatile hour.
Clash - Movie Information
- Original Title: إشتباك
- Release Year: 2016
- Directed by: Mohamed Diab
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Thriller, Drama
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: Arabic
- Spoken Languages: German, Arabic
- Release Date (Theatrical): July 27, 2016 (Egypt), April 1, 2017 (United States), April 21, 2017 (United Kingdom - 15), September 14, 2016 (France), May 4, 2017 (Brazil - 14), June 2, 2017 (Spain)
- Alternative Titles: Clash (DE), Çatisma (TR), 冲突的一天 (TW), Káosz (HU), Conflict (RO), Embate no Furgão (BR), Eshtebak (EG), 囚车大风暴 (HK)
- Production Companies: Ministère des Affaires étrangères et du Développement International, ARTE France Cinéma, NiKo Film, Film Clinic, Sampek Productions, Acamedia Pictures, Fortress Film Clinic, EMC Pictures, CNC
- Production Countries: Egypt, France, United Arab Emirates
Clash - Plot
In 2013, in Cairo, a tragic fate brings together several detainees from different political and social backgrounds inside a police truck, during the turmoil that followed the ousting of president Morsi.
Clash - Trailer
See the tension unfold in the official trailer for this acclaimed Egyptian thriller.
Conflict is on the inside.
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Clash - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mohamed Diab
Main Cast
- Nelly Karim
- Tarek Abdelaziz
- Hani Adel
- Ahmed Dash
- Ahmed Malek
- Amr Al Qadi
- Gamil Barsoum
- Khaled Kamal
- May Elghety
- Mohamed El Seweisy
Writers
- Khaled Diab
- Mohamed Diab
Producers
- Rémi Burah
- Mohamed Hefzy
- Eric Lagesse
- Moez Masoud
- M.W. Zackie
Clash - FAQs
What is Clash about?
Clash unfolds almost entirely inside a cramped police truck in Cairo during the violent unrest that followed the 2013 ousting of President Morsi. Strangers from opposing political factions — Muslim Brotherhood supporters, secular activists, journalists — are forced together, turning the vehicle into a pressure cooker of fear, tension, and raw humanity.
Is Clash based on a true story?
Clash is not based on one specific true story, but it's deeply rooted in real events. Director Mohamed Diab drew from the actual political chaos that gripped Egypt after the military ousted President Morsi in July 2013, capturing the street violence, mass arrests, and social fractures that defined that turbulent period.
Why was Clash filmed entirely inside a police truck?
Director Mohamed Diab made the bold creative choice to confine the entire film within a single police truck as a deliberate metaphor. The cramped, suffocating space mirrors Egypt itself — a nation where people of radically different beliefs are trapped together, forced to confront one another with no escape and no easy answers.
Who are the main actors in Clash?
The cast is led by Nelly Karim and Tarek Abdelaziz, with strong supporting performances from Hani Adel, Ahmed Dash, Ahmed Malek, Amr Al Qadi, Gamil Barsoum, Khaled Kamal, May Elghety, and Mohamed El Seweisy. Together they portray a cross-section of Egyptian society thrown into an impossible situation.
Where can I watch Clash online?
You can watch Clash on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home — all offering rental or purchase options. It's also available to stream for free on Kanopy, which is accessible through many public libraries and universities.
How was Clash received by critics?
Clash earned strong critical praise, particularly for its audacious single-location concept and the raw intensity of its ensemble performances. It was selected as Egypt's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, where it was warmly received.
What does the ending of Clash mean?
The ending of Clash is deliberately ambiguous and deeply unsettling. Rather than offering resolution, Diab leaves the fate of the detainees uncertain, reflecting the broader hopelessness of Egypt's political crisis. The final moments suggest that the cycle of violence and division has no clean conclusion — only an ongoing, exhausting struggle with no clear winners.
What are movies similar to Clash?
If Clash resonated with you, Cairo Conspiracy (2022) offers another sharp look at Egyptian political intrigue. For similarly tense, confined-space thrillers, The Beasts (2022) delivers relentless pressure. Sheikh Jackson (2017) also explores Egyptian identity and social conflict with compelling depth and emotional honesty.
More About Clash
Explore further details about Clash on these authoritative film databases.