The Machine (2023) (Short Film) - المَكَنة (فيلم قصير)

The Machine is an Experimental Documentary Film.
3 mins 24 seconds

Amidst the estranged urban landscape of Alexandria, a metal mass penetrates through the confines of the residential spaces of the city.

The Machine transports the passengers from one place to another holding no remorse for its monstrous and accelerating presence in the logistical fabric. Engulfed by its squeaking brakes and alarming noise, I attempt to put the viewer at the critical front lines of this essential machine that moves nearly 71 thousands passengers daily, and 18 million annually. Starting from the western districts to the edge of the city at eastern Abu Qir, and going through sixteen stations at a distance of 71 Kilometers until it reaches its final dock.

The Machine that started operating in the early 1950s holds the lives of countless citizens with no regard to their safety or personal measures as they pass by a societal collapse on both sides of the metal track at full speed through its non existing doors.

The Abu Qir Train has been put out of circulation as the state begins an expansive developmental phase turning the train into a high speed metro that is yet to be unleashed.

In each new project, I try to break new ground through collaborating with artists who have a deep sense of exploration and understanding of the material at hand. I enjoyed working on this project with electronic sound artist Khaled Weshahy through composing and designing the sounds for this piece in an unconventional manner that resulted in what I consider an immersive experience at the heart of the audio-visual narrative.

This project was completed by late 2020