678 (film)
Encyclopedia
678 is a 2010 Egypt
ian film by director Mohamed Diab. It offers a succinct depiction of the plight endured by millions of Egyptian women who deal with sexual harassment
on daily basis in a highly misogynistic society. The Film receives the biggest winner on The Muhr Arab category from Dubai International Film Festival
2010.
in the lives of the main characters. The film paints an uncompromising picture of Egyptian society from the points of view of three women from different social classes united by their decision to no longer remain silent victims of sexual harassment.
678 features interweaving stories about women from different socio-economical classes. There is Fayza (Bushra
), the governmental employee married to a hardworking husband (Bassem Samra) and the mother of two children. She is a simple young woman who comes from a poor background. She heads to work every day in an overcrowded bus — the number 678. It is on that bus that she experiences harassment, and goes about finding a solution. Seba (Karim), a wealthy jewellery designer, is recovering from a vicious gang assault. She is the posh wife of a successful doctor, and finally there is Nelly (El Seba'ay), the outspoken and opinionated fiancée of a stand-up comedian. She is an aspiring stand-up comic, and draws national outrage for daring to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. The film follows this trio as, frustrated by the lackadaisical response from authorities, they decide to take the law into their own hands and begin exacting violent revenge on men foolish enough to try to harass them.
All three women go through one or multiple incidents of traumatising sexual harassment. The incidents themselves aren’t exceptionally tragic; they’re even mild compared to the real harassment stories that already exist. However, these incidents have upsetting physiological effects on the women, crippling them emotionally and functionally to the point that they transform into ghosts of their former selves.
With bitterness and finesse, the movie explores the psyche of a harassed woman, emphasizing the level of emotional harm inflicted on her when the privacy of her own body is violated by cold-blooded strangers. A plethora of negative emotions are explored. Torn by frustration, self-hatred and a resilient revenge impulse, she remains confused about how to react to such an affront in a society that still blames the victim for “failing to protect her body”.
The film sends the message to women who are subject to sexual harassment that it is okay to resort to vigilante justice against the harasser because, according to the film, women can't bring formal complaints about harassment to police for fear of scandal. Making this assertion is like giving women a green light to defend themselves.
ian pop singer Tamer Hosny
because one of his songs is used in the context of harassment. In this, he threatened to sue the production company and block the release of 678. On the other hand, the screenwriter and director Mohamed Diab says that he doesn't intend to demean Tamer Hosny
, he was so objective in his selection to his song.
A lawyer called Abdel Hamid Shabaan sue the filmmakers to bar the film from getting into Dubai International Film Festival
because it smears Egypt's reputation, but the filmmakers defend their movie.
Mahmoud Hanfy Mahmoud, head of the complaints department at the Association for Human rights and Social Justice, has demanded in an official complaint to the attorney general that the Egyptian film entitled 678, which addresses the issue of sexual harassment, be banned because, according to him, incites female victims of sexual harassment to commit violent acts against young men, specifically targeting their "sensitive places" with sharp tools, which could potentially lead to sexual impotence.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian film by director Mohamed Diab. It offers a succinct depiction of the plight endured by millions of Egyptian women who deal with sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
on daily basis in a highly misogynistic society. The Film receives the biggest winner on The Muhr Arab category from Dubai International Film Festival
Dubai International Film Festival
The Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
2010.
Plot
The film is based on three parallel plots of three true stories of three Egyptian women. It sheds light on a very sensitive issue in Egypt and exposes the implications and circumstances of sexual harassmentSexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
in the lives of the main characters. The film paints an uncompromising picture of Egyptian society from the points of view of three women from different social classes united by their decision to no longer remain silent victims of sexual harassment.
678 features interweaving stories about women from different socio-economical classes. There is Fayza (Bushra
Bushra (Egyptian actress)
Bushra is an Egyptian actress. She earned the Best Actress award at the Dubai International Film Festival for her role in 678.-Quotes:* "Politicians alone do not create change. It is high time for us actors and filmmakers to also participate"...
), the governmental employee married to a hardworking husband (Bassem Samra) and the mother of two children. She is a simple young woman who comes from a poor background. She heads to work every day in an overcrowded bus — the number 678. It is on that bus that she experiences harassment, and goes about finding a solution. Seba (Karim), a wealthy jewellery designer, is recovering from a vicious gang assault. She is the posh wife of a successful doctor, and finally there is Nelly (El Seba'ay), the outspoken and opinionated fiancée of a stand-up comedian. She is an aspiring stand-up comic, and draws national outrage for daring to file a sexual harassment lawsuit. The film follows this trio as, frustrated by the lackadaisical response from authorities, they decide to take the law into their own hands and begin exacting violent revenge on men foolish enough to try to harass them.
All three women go through one or multiple incidents of traumatising sexual harassment. The incidents themselves aren’t exceptionally tragic; they’re even mild compared to the real harassment stories that already exist. However, these incidents have upsetting physiological effects on the women, crippling them emotionally and functionally to the point that they transform into ghosts of their former selves.
Message
Every time an Egyptian woman leaves her house she must make a lot of calculations. What should she wear? Are her clothes too revealing or too tight? What form of transportation will she take, and should she walk alone in the streets or have a man accompany her? All precautions have to be considered in private in order to minimize her chances of being groped or harassed in public.With bitterness and finesse, the movie explores the psyche of a harassed woman, emphasizing the level of emotional harm inflicted on her when the privacy of her own body is violated by cold-blooded strangers. A plethora of negative emotions are explored. Torn by frustration, self-hatred and a resilient revenge impulse, she remains confused about how to react to such an affront in a society that still blames the victim for “failing to protect her body”.
The film sends the message to women who are subject to sexual harassment that it is okay to resort to vigilante justice against the harasser because, according to the film, women can't bring formal complaints about harassment to police for fear of scandal. Making this assertion is like giving women a green light to defend themselves.
Critical reception
The trailer of the film sparks the ire of the EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian pop singer Tamer Hosny
Tamer Hosny
Tamer Hosny is an Egyptian singer, actor, composer, director, producer and songwriter. Hosny first came to attention when he appeared on mix tapes with other Egyptian artists...
because one of his songs is used in the context of harassment. In this, he threatened to sue the production company and block the release of 678. On the other hand, the screenwriter and director Mohamed Diab says that he doesn't intend to demean Tamer Hosny
Tamer Hosny
Tamer Hosny is an Egyptian singer, actor, composer, director, producer and songwriter. Hosny first came to attention when he appeared on mix tapes with other Egyptian artists...
, he was so objective in his selection to his song.
A lawyer called Abdel Hamid Shabaan sue the filmmakers to bar the film from getting into Dubai International Film Festival
Dubai International Film Festival
The Dubai International Film Festival is an international film festival based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Launched in 2004, it aims to foster the growth of filmmaking in the Arab world.-Overview:...
because it smears Egypt's reputation, but the filmmakers defend their movie.
Mahmoud Hanfy Mahmoud, head of the complaints department at the Association for Human rights and Social Justice, has demanded in an official complaint to the attorney general that the Egyptian film entitled 678, which addresses the issue of sexual harassment, be banned because, according to him, incites female victims of sexual harassment to commit violent acts against young men, specifically targeting their "sensitive places" with sharp tools, which could potentially lead to sexual impotence.