Dubai: A new Egyptian movie titled 6,7,8 is sending a strong message against the sexual, emotional or psychological harassment of women.
The film, directed by Mohammad Diab, features three women who are being harassed and decide to take matters into their own hands after the law, their families and friends fail them.
At a press conference on the Dubai International Film Festival's (DIFF)' second day yesterday, the director and cast of the film spoke about the experience of making a film they described as different, and how they wished to send a message of awareness against harassment — and in favour of empowerment for men and women.
Diab, who is also the script writer, said after making four commercial films it was time he discussed a critical social issue. He said he felt proud to be a man who wrote about women's rights.
Diab said although women had to defend themselves against harassment any way possible, the film did not advocate the use of violence, which one of the three female characters resorts to.
Actress Bushra said the film was not only about harassment. It was about the uncontrolled overpopulation in Egypt and the violation of privacy and women's rights, all seen from the Egyptian perspective. Although the issue of harassment was universal, the story tells it as it is in Egypt.
"The name of the film is 6,7,8, which means the problem is not in the beginning and not near the end. It is in the middle stages and escalating," she said.
Commenting on the use of violence in self-defence, actress Nelly Kareem jokingly said that if people did not learn by will, they would have to be taught by force sometimes, because pressure could lead to explosions.
