.png)
In Mohamed Rashad’s The Settlement (Al mosta’mera), there is a match made in hell between a desire to seek normalcy and surviving burdens of the past. Premiering in the Berlinale’s Perspectives section, writer-director Rashad presents a visually bold workplace drama that critiques the social structures that predetermine individuals’ fates, based on their backgrounds.
The film stays far away from the stereotypical image of Alexandria, dubbed “the Bride of the Mediterranean” in Egyptian tourism brochures, and takes its story into a working-class, impoverished neighborhood actually named The Settlement. It starts with the young Maro (Ziad Islam) insisting he wants to leave school and join his older brother Hossam (Adham Shoukry), who is working in the factory as a machine operator — a factory without any safety measures. How both boys got this job remains a mystery for a couple of minutes.
The backstory is that their father has died in a mysterious factory accident, and the management offers his sons the same job as compensation to avoid legal repercussions. This sets up a story that might condemn legal corruption and the lack of accountability in the workplace. Instead, Rashad focuses on his character’s attempt at redemption and reintegration into society after a rough start with drugs and dealing.
As a famous Egyptian saying goes, “Say, what did your grandfather leave you? Your father, and he is already dead”—a punchline reflecting the absence of the often-romanticized relationship between a father and his children. The nightmarish reality of Hossam, a former drug dealer who is now the sole breadwinner of the family, is that he is forced to inherit his father’s work with all its burdens. That is when one of the most important characters is introduced: the factory itself.
The bleak plant where Hossam works is more than a workplace for the main characters: it is a post-apocalyptic setting with outdated machines symbolizing an endless cycle of meaningless labor. Despite this horrific image, the factory serves as the film’s central visual and thematic element, suggesting that it is not just a workplace but rather a world in itself where individuals are self-contained and trapped in a structure that will eventually outlive them. Hence, Hossam is trapped with the burden his father has left him, like the house that he has to share with his rebellious younger brother and his sick mother (Hanadi Abdel Khalek).
Hossam is not described as a typical working-class young man fighting against corrupt capitalism, an abusive police officer, or any other villain. He is a complex figure torn between destructive impulses and a sincere desire to change. We see this in his desperate attempt at normalcy, for example, when he turns his back on senior engineers demanding he score drugs for them, or in his romantic interactions with a female factory worker (Hajar Omar) and his desire for a serious relationship. One scene, in which he is crushed and tormented by his pain, shows him slowly hugging her, aching for acceptance — a moment beautifully captured on camera.
This is not the first time the filmmaker has presented the factory as a film set. His 2016 documentary Little Eagles explores social class and generational struggles through the journey of his father, who was also a factory worker. Here the cinematography (by Mahmoud Lotfi) and production design (by Yasser El Husseiny) have made the factory one of the main characters, a mute witness to the protagonist’s struggles. The film falls squarely into a film tradition featuring socially marginalized characters, a subgenre that has deep historical significance in Arab cinema and especially in Egypt. This genre focuses on the struggles of the working class, minorities, women, and individuals who are slowly losing their significance in neo-liberal structures. Usually these characters are presented to be admired and sympathized with; they are victims even if they are perpetrators, winners even if they are losers. Here, instead, the protagonist is an uncomfortable character who is at times violent, an awkward presence who creates an uneasy flow in the story, making it difficult to sympathize with him. Yet this paradox allows the film to reach an even higher level of realism and an honest portrayal of working people, reflecting the bitter reality of millions of young Egyptians today.
Director, screenplay: Mohamed Rashad
Cast: Adham Shoukry, Ziad Islam, Hajar Omar, Hanadi Abdel Khalek,
Mohamed Abdel Hady, Emad Ghoneim
Producer: Hala Lotfy
Co-Producers: Etienne de Ricaud, Kesmat El Sayed
Cinematography: Mahmoud Lotfi
Editing: Heba Othman
Music: Tony Overwater
Sound Design: Mohamed Salah
Production Design: Yasser El Husseiny
Casting: Adel Raouf
Production companies: Hassala Films
International sales: MAD World info@madworld.film
Venue: Berlin Film Festival (Perspectives)
In Arabic
94 minutes
Hi, This is Mike from Monkey Digital, I am contacting you about a great business deal. How would you like to place our ads on your website and link back via your custom referral link towards popular products from our platform? This way, you receive a 35% commission, month after
omy466
Good blog! I really love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified when a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your RSS feed which must do the trick! Have a nice day!
hnqrbq
Hi, kam dashur të di çmimin tuaj
Hi there, I realize that many have difficulty understanding that search engine optimization requires time and a methodical long-term commitment. Sadly, very few site owners have the determination to observe the gradual yet powerful trends that can transform their company. With constant search engine updates, a steady, ongoing optimization plan
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
Hi, მინდოდა ვიცოდე თქვენი ფასი.
Salut, ech wollt Äre Präis wëssen.
16aecu
Greetings, Having some set of links redirecting to al-takdir.com might bring no value or harmful results for your business. It really makes no difference the total external links you have, what is crucial is the number of search terms those domains are optimized for. That is the key element. Not
Kaixo, zure prezioa jakin nahi nuen.
Dia duit, theastaigh uaim do phraghas a fháil.
Hi, I wanted to know your price.
Hello, Want to know how your website is performing? Find out its pros and cons with our No-Cost SEO Audit! In just a couple of minutes, you’ll get a in-depth analysis of your website’s SEO health and recommendations to boost your search position. Begin towards stronger SEO and business success.
Sveiki, es gribēju zināt savu cenu.
Hello, I wanted to reach out with something that could seriously boost your website’s traffic. We work with a trusted ad network that allows us to deliver genuine, geo-targeted social ads traffic for just $10 per 10,000 visits. This isn’t bot traffic—it’s actual users, tailored to your chosen market and
Hej, jeg ønskede at kende din pris.
Sveiki, aš norėjau sužinoti jūsų kainą.
Ciao, volevo sapere il tuo prezzo.
Прывітанне, я хацеў даведацца Ваш прайс.
Hello, This is Mike from Monkey Digital, I am reaching out to discuss a mutual opportunity. How would you like to show our promotions on your website and link back via your personalized tracking link towards popular SEO solutions from our platform? This way, you make a recurring 35% commission,
oycnqh
Sawubona, bengifuna ukwazi intengo yakho.
Hi, მინდოდა ვიცოდე თქვენი ფასი.
Szia, meg akartam tudni az árát.
21ympv
Hi there, I know that many struggle accepting that organic ranking growth is a long-term game and a well-planned long-term commitment. Sadly, very few businesses have the willingness to witness the gradual yet business-changing gains that can elevate their business. With constant search engine updates, a reliable, commitment to SEO
Salam, qiymətinizi bilmək istədim.
Hi, kam dashur të di çmimin tuaj
I must express appreciation to the writer just for bailing me out of this type of circumstance. As a result of surfing through the the web and obtaining ideas which are not pleasant, I assumed my life was well over. Existing without the presence of strategies to the problems you
Szia, meg akartam tudni az árát.
Hi there, Having some bunch of links pointing to al-takdir.com might bring no value or worse for your site. It really makes no difference the total backlinks you have, what is key is the amount of search terms those websites appear in search for. That is the key element. Not
I have recently started a web site, the info you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Γεια σου, ήθελα να μάθω την τιμή σας.
I’m extremely impressed with your writing talents as neatly as with the format to your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way stay up the nice high quality writing, it’s uncommon to look a great blog like this one today!
হাই, আমি আপনার মূল্য জানতে চেয়েছিলাম.
I am extremely inspired together with your writing skills and also with the format to your blog. Is that this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway stay up the excellent high quality writing, it is uncommon to look a nice blog like this one nowadays. <a
Hai, saya ingin tahu harga Anda.
Hi, Worried about hidden SEO issues on your website? Let us help — completely free. Run a 100% free SEO check and discover the exact problems holding your site back from ranking higher on Google. Run Your Free SEO Check Now https://www.speed-seo.net/check-site-seo-score/ Or chat with us and our agent will
Dear Webmaster, I wanted to connect with something that could seriously boost your website’s traffic. We work with a trusted ad network that allows us to deliver genuine, geo-targeted social ads traffic for just $10 per 10,000 visits. This isn’t bot traffic—it’s actual users, tailored to your chosen market and
Hai, saya ingin tahu harga Anda.
Dia duit, theastaigh uaim do phraghas a fháil.
Hi, If you’re ready to boost your rankings, you need an ongoing SEO strategy. At Hilkom Digital, we focus on long-term growth through hands-on SEO strategies. Our monthly plans are engineered for results and designed for businesses that want real results — not just temporary wins. Due to high demand
Hi, This is Mike from Monkey Digital, I am getting in touch to discuss a exciting collaboration. How would you like to show our ads on your site and connect via your unique tracking link towards hot-selling services from our business? This way, you make a solid 35% commission, every
Kaixo, zure prezioa jakin nahi nuen.
Hi, ego volo scire vestri pretium.
Hi, I realize that some companies find it challenging understanding that organic ranking growth is a gradual process and a strategically planned regular commitment. Unfortunately, very few website owners have the patience to observe the gradual yet impactful improvements that can completely transform their online presence. With regular search engine
Ola, quería saber o seu prezo.
Hallo, ek wou jou prys ken.
Hello, Getting some bunch of links linking to al-takdir.com might bring zero worth or harmful results for your business. It really makes no difference how many inbound links you have, what is crucial is the number of keywords those domains appear in search for. That is the key thing. Not
Hæ, ég vildi vita verð þitt.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang
Hai, saya ingin tahu harga Anda.
Hi, Worried about hidden SEO issues on your website? Let us help — completely free. Run a 100% free SEO check and discover the exact problems holding your site back from ranking higher on Google. Run Your Free SEO Check Now https://www.speed-seo.net/check-site-seo-score/ Or chat with us and our agent will
Sveiki, es gribēju zināt savu cenu.
Sveiki, aš norėjau sužinoti jūsų kainą.
হাই, আমি আপনার মূল্য জানতে চেয়েছিলাম.
obviously like your web-site but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I?ll certainly come back again.
Sveiki, es gribēju zināt savu cenu.
Hi, I realize that some companies find it challenging recognizing that SEO is a long-term game and a carefully organized ongoing investment. Sadly, very few marketers have the dedication to observe the incremental yet impactful benefits that can completely change their online presence. With Google’s evolving algorithms, a reliable, long-term
Hej, jeg ønskede at kende din pris.
Γεια σου, ήθελα να μάθω την τιμή σας.
Прывітанне, я хацеў даведацца Ваш прайс.
Hej, jeg ønskede at kende din pris.
Salut, ech wollt Äre Präis wëssen.
Hi, This is Mike from Monkey Digital, I am reaching out regarding a great collaboration. How would you like to show our ads on your website and link back via your personalized tracking link towards popular products from our website? This way, you receive a solid 35% residual income, every
Sawubona, bengifuna ukwazi intengo yakho.
Hai, saya ingin tahu harga Anda.
Hæ, ég vildi vita verð þitt.
IMPORTANT! TAKE IT OR LOSE IT! $199,335.35 CASH WAITING! https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbyymMRYRL2IW5cLQnraE3dykbfMfD7mF_y5pZDgIXJAT9PSq2ZCjVC8gWphXIGVrASk/exec/5f9l0k5t/6e0y/u/ci/6e0i8l1w/6q8y/7/qq/9z9t7s5u/7t9g/z/5e
Hi, kam dashur të di çmimin tuaj
URGENT MESSAGE! Collect Your $199,485.99 Jackpot Immediately https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbyHRWb1zomV0x4mvH2fIiYjv-ZsicCCvsyaiJfuYVoeR6Km3bBZ8wzEFDXZPTokTbqb/exec/3a4o9j2q/4n6r/4/p9/0c7i0h2r/7r8d/2/mq/6z4p0s4w/5t6s/e/ae
হাই, আমি আপনার মূল্য জানতে চেয়েছিলাম.
Hi, ego volo scire vestri pretium.
Здравейте, исках да знам цената ви.
Hi, მინდოდა ვიცოდე თქვენი ფასი.
Hi, This is Mike from Monkey Digital, I am reaching out about a mutual opportunity. How would you like to feature our banners on your website and connect via your personalized affiliate link towards popular products from our website? This way, you make a solid 35% residual income, continuously from