HNIFF 2023
Coming Soon
Directed by Saif Abdelnabi · Egypt · 19 min · short · narrative
A group of people trapped in an unknown place get to know each other while they await their next journey to escape.
This film's screening window has ended.
From the director
In my film "Coming Soon", I delve into complex themes and issues, with a focus on the devastating impact of rape and sexual harassment. The film opens with a scene that sets the tone for the rest of the story, featuring a drunk man who is on the verge of raping a woman he does not know. This character is the centerpiece of the film, and we explore his memories, dreams, and illusions through the eyes of seven different characters, each one sharing a genetic connection with him or representing a woman he has been with.
Through this unique approach, we portray the rapist's sperm cells as human beings fighting to be born, with only one ultimately succeeding due to the act of rape. This child, born of an inappropriate relationship, becomes the focus of the film as we examine the profound consequences of being the offspring of a rapist.
The film challenges the notion that a rapist would only be attracted to angels and shows how physical attractiveness, proximity, similarity, and reciprocity play a role in these toxic relationships. The other sperm cells that do not get born represent the rapist's toxic relationships with other women and how his mindset would always put him in those situations.
Furthermore, the film explores the differences in memory between male and female sperm cells, revealing the parents' past and their mental health issues that prevent them from bonding and creating a healthy life. Ultimately, the film underscores the devastating impact that rape can have on the child born from such a relationship, with instability and mental illness as common outcomes.
Through this powerful and thought-provoking film, I hope to bring attention to the profound consequences of rape and to encourage greater awareness and understanding of this deeply troubling issue.