CAIRO — After seeing the widely acclaimed film "El Gezira 2" ("The Island 2") in the Egyptian cinema, one might wonder how political events in Egypt affect art and how art affects public opinion politically. In this case, "The Island 2" bore certain political messages regarding the period between the January 25 and June 30 revolutions.

The first part of the film, "El Gezira," which was released in 2007, tells the story of Mansour al-Hafni, one of the biggest drug and arms dealers in Upper Egypt who rules the village of Gezira in the 1970s. Hafni makes a deal with the security apparatus so that it will allow him to eliminate his competitors, as long as he helps it take down extremist terrorists. As the terrorist threat is eliminated, Hafni's relationship with the security apparatus becomes shaky and they fight a bloody battle for security forces to arrest him and end his rule over Gezira.

The second part, "El Gezira 2," which is now showing in cinemas in Egypt, tells the story of Hafni’s escape from prison after Egypt's prisons were invaded on Jan. 28, 2011, and his attempt to regain control over Gezira. The film conveys political messages represented by the Gezira residents’ revolution, led by Hafni, which alludes to the January 25 Revolution. The families who were ruling Gezira before the residents’ revolution represent the regime of Hosni Mubarak. The group of travelers (Rahhala), a religious extremist group aiming to control Gezira, represent the Muslim Brotherhood. The film ends when all conflicting parties unite to end the Rahhala’s rule over Gezira, in reference to the June 30 Revolution of 2013.

Film critic Nader Adly told Al-Monitor that the film might refer to the situation in Egypt and its messages can be viewed from different angles, in which the Rahhala might refer to the Islamic State. “The messages might have certain meanings that we [have] yet to realize,” he said.