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In the Last Days of the City

Name: In the Last Days of the City
Director: Tamer El Said
Released: 2016
Duration: 118 min

Representation Score

3.5/10

Limited

2016

Director

Tamer El Said

Runtime

118 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This film is a sophisticated piece of international cinema that excels in its authentic cultural grounding. It disrupts Western-centric narrative structures by focusing on Middle Eastern identities through a local lens. However, the work lacks engagement with LGBTQ+ or gender-subversive themes. The emotional core is tied to a traditional romantic arc, which limits the film's diversity in these areas. Ultimately, the film's strength lies in its refusal to follow linear storytelling, opting instead for a fragmented reality that explores identity through personal tragedy and urban decay.

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Category Breakdown

Does In the Last Days of the City have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film focuses on a traditional romantic relationship between a man and his deceased wife. There are no visible LGBTQ+ identities or narratives present.

How does In the Last Days of the City portray gender?

Fair

The narrative emphasizes the male protagonist's internal psychological journey. Female characters play minor roles, often appearing only as catalysts for male grief.

How racially and ethnically diverse is In the Last Days of the City?

Excellent

The film offers an authentic depiction of Arab urban landscapes, challenging Western-centric views. Scenes from Beirut, Baghdad, and Berlin create a nuanced, transnational Middle Eastern identity.

How does In the Last Days of the City represent religion and culture?

Good

The story centers on personal memory and existential questions rather than strict religious or national frameworks. It uses a non-linear structure to explore truth as a fragmented, individual concept.

Does In the Last Days of the City include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of physical or cognitive disabilities influencing the narrative.

Present on Screen

Authentic portrayal of Arab urban landscapes without a Western perspective.
Creates a transnational, pan-Arab connection through diverse regional footage.
Challenges monolithic depictions of the Middle East through multi-city perspectives.

Limited or Absent

Lacks female characters who play a significant role in driving the story or self-actualization.
Provides no representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth narratives.
Does not feature depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

In the fading grandeur of downtown Cairo, Khalid, a 35-year-old filmmaker is struggling to make a film that captures the pulse of his city at a moment when all around him dreams as much as buildings are disintegrating. With the help of his friends who send him footage from their lives in Beirut, Baghdad and Berlin, he finds the strength to keep going through the difficulty and beauty of living IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE CITY.

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