The Island 2

Sherif Arafa's 2014 Egyptian film continues the first film, opening with Mansour al-Hefni's escape from prison. With his son and brother he wants to return to the island and take back what they lost, facing both his former love Karima and another clan leader in the region. The film widens the world the first one built. The drug trade, armed conflict and the fight for local power form the body of it; the idea that political authority does not function in the region is sustained. Ahmed El Saqqa leads with Hend Sabry opposite him. The production scale is large by the standards of Egyptian cinema and the action was shot with a wide cast. The narrative cannot keep the tightness of the first film and the number of characters grows. Who it's for: those who like Egyptian action cinema and have seen the first film. Who it's not for: viewers unfamiliar with the series; it continues without explaining earlier events.