April 19 2013 – From Bangkok to Boston, Tokyo to Tampa, the safety and security of women around the world exists in varying degrees. The proliferation of personal alarms, surveillance apps and awareness campaigns marketed to women of all demographics has increased female safety and helped combat misogynist acts. It’s a misnomer that security issues end when entering public transit. In fact, even with all the CCTV cameras in plain sight, assaults persist.
The hustle and bustle of Modern day Cairo with its old world values are rife with predatory situations for all women, especially with its antiquated bus system. In a male dominated society fueling this condition, female empowerment becomes virtually non-existent. Director, Mohamed Diab reset the landscape by showing three strong women who take on, then break long held traditions and entrenched Egyptian family prejudices to fight the system. This is the turmoil swirling at the core of Cairo 678.
Cairo 678 follows three female protagonists, Fayza (Bushra), Seba ( Nelly Karin) and Nelly (Nahed El Sebai) who, albeit coming from different backgrounds of Egyptian society, have one common thread that connects them; they have all been the victims of sexual harassment. The one constant in Fayza’s day is the unwanted groping she endures on the overcrowded Cairo buses during her daily commutes. Overpriced cabs combined with her low paying government job leave Fayza no option but to confront this daily assault head on. Empowered after attending Seba’s self-defence class for women, Fayza flips the script on the following days commute. With her switchblade concealed and at the ready, Fayza stealthy jabs her assailants privates after he grinds and gropes her, transforming this diminutive mother from fearful to fearless. Soon a police investigation is launched as a handful of men find themselves in hospital trying to explain their targeted injuries to Essam (Maged El Kedwany) the boorish seasoned investigator who’s no fool.
Seba is an affluent self-defence teacher who, despite thousands of soccer fans in her midst, was still sexually assaulted after the game when separated from her partner. Nelly is a call-centre rep and part-time comedian who always performs to seething male audiences who view her as less than. She is violated in broad daylight at a busy intersection, which leads to her decision to go against family wishes and make history by being the first female to bring a sexual assault case to court in Egypt.
The shaky hand-held camera effect magnifies each encounter providing a claustrophobic vantage for each violation and the terror and helplessness it elicits. Diab detailed character development helps expose the wider context of female subjugation in Cairo. By utilizing a parallel plotting style in the first act, Diab subtly links each characters life altering assault exposing the raw emotions within as the women band together for support.
Review 3.5 / 5: Not only does Cairo 678 expose just how entrenched the gender imbalances have become, the pressures to save the family name and honour becomes paramount. Director, Mohamed Diab debut film successfully tackles an issue driven and all together taboo subject with conviction and strong performances. One can only hope that films like Cairo 678 become change agents for outmoded social norms.
Fayza, Seba and Nelly won’t take it anymore.
Genre: Drama
Country: Egypt
Language: Arabic
Year of Production: 2010
Runtime: 100 mins
Principal Cast: Bushra, Nelly Karim, Maged El Kedwany, Nahed El Sebaï, Ahmed El Fichawy, Bassem Samra, Sawsan Badr, Nahed El Sebay, Omar El Saeed, Yara Gobran, Ibrahim Salah
Writer: Mohamed Diab
Producer: Bushra