SQUARE, THE {FEATURE FILM}
Summary
A documentary film about the Egyptian Revolution concerning a mass protest movement to reform Egypt’s government, beginning in 2011. In January of 2011 in Cairo, Egypt, the city suffers a blackout. Various accounts describe the poverty and social injustice rampant in Egypt, owing to a dictatorial government regime led by Hosni Mubarak, enforcing martial law for decades. People become enraged at the government’s behavior, including torturing citizens, and in 2011 a massive protest is organized in Tahrir Square on the pretext of calling for fundamental human rights. One young man, Ahmed Hassan, recounts joining the massive protest and discusses the fervor of himself and the other multitudes present. He discusses some of his fellow protestors, such as Magdy Ashour, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, film actor Khalid Abdalla, an Egyptian expatriate returning to the country after a long absence, and singer Ramy Essam. During the occupation of Tahrir Square, many of these individuals make their own plans: Magdy contemplates speaking on behalf of other Muslims in the protest. Aida Elkasef joins the other protestors in waiting for Mubarak’s resignation, commenting on the feeling of camaraderie experienced by many of the protestors. Khalid nervously waits alongside them, and in an interview with Anderson Cooper expresses his pride in standing alongside his fellow Egyptians during this massive upheaval of social reform. Finally Mubarak’s resignation is announced on February 11th, 2011, prompting celebration in Tahrir Square. During the celebration one of the protestors, Pierre Seyoufr, comments on how everyone put aside their political differences to work together for a common goal. He, Magdy, and others contemplate where to go after the protest, realizing that they must take control quickly after the fall of the regime to build on the momentum from the protest. Soon thereafter, Tahrir square is emptied by order of the military; the military coup puts military officials in charge of the country. They promise to meet the demands of the protestors, but no reforms occur and the country is still under martial law, frustrating the protestors immensely. In the spring of 2011, two months after the initial protest, Tahrir Square is occupied once again in a second massive protest to demand civilian rule. The protestors realize that getting Mubarak to resign is not sufficient, as someone like him could easily take his place. However, this time there is some resistance to the protest from other civilians, and it proves to be more difficult to convince people to join. Ramy helps to screen out potentially problematic interlopers from Tahrir Square. The army threatens the protestors if they do not leave the square, but the protestors are resolute. They impose a curfew throughout the city. Ahmed helps some protestors establish barricades, fearing that some in the military may follow through on their threats. That night, March 9th, the military arrives and assaults the protestors with riot weapons, forcing many of them to flee. In conjunction with the police, they begin making arrests and soon secure the square. Some of the protestors attempt to regroup and discover that Ramy was among the people arrested, and that there has been no news coverage of the attack. Ramy is brutally tortured and makes a video testimony, discussing the attack and his subsequent arrest. Magdy recounts being taken away and suffering similar tortures on many occasions. At the Mosireen Media Center, Khalid and a number of others meet to discuss the use of media to get the story of the revolution out to major news outlets and social media in order to drum up support for their movement. Magdy is frustrated at the lack of real progress the protestors have achieved. The military plants grass and greenery at Tahrir Square as a show of appreciation for the protestors, but Ahmed and the other protestors recognize it as an act of manipulation on their part in order to divide the protestors. Six months after the start of the revolution, the military does not follow through on its promise to relinquish power and continues making arrests of protestors, sending them to military trials. In the summer of 2011, the protestors once again return to Tahrir Square to demand a new constitution and an end to martial law. Magdy and Khalid reunite and comment that many of the protestors present at the square are members of the Muslim Brotherhood. Khalid is concerned that there may be political maneuvering on the part of the Brotherhood in regards to the army; Magdy admits that some have secretly done so but that he does not approve of such tactics. The Muslim protestors start chanting for Islamic rule of the country, and using their position in the square to get the military government to accede to political demands. Ahmed and others believe that the Brotherhood “ruined” the protest by creating divisions amongst the protestors. In the street, Magdy faces continued criticism from other protestors due to his relation with the Muslim Brotherhood. When the other protestors start calling for a new constitution, the Brotherhood makes plans to withdraw from the square. Ahmed fervently calls upon his fellow protestors for the new constitution and believes the Brotherhood does not represent a positive change for the future of Egypt. Magdy does not agree with the Brotherhood’s decision to withdraw from the square, but chooses not to question his leaders. Following their departure, the military once again disperses the protestors, continuing to beat and arrest them. Khalid argues with his mother over the political state of the country; he is worried that there are not yet enough decent political figures to hold a vote for, but his mother disagrees. In fall 2011, ten months after the initial protest, protests against the military government grow more intense. A protest is held in front of the Maspero building, the headquarters of Egyptian radio and television, which is heavily protected by military forces. The military mobilizes in force, running down protestors with armored trucks and killing a number of them. Funerals are held for the fallen, and the protestors demand access to the autopsy reports as evidence of military brutality. Ragia Omran, a human rights lawyer, arrives to investigate the situation; she discovers that the secret police infiltrated the hospital where many of the casualties were brought and tried to convince their families not to go forward with the autopsies. Without autopsies, the government would be able to make it seem as though the deaths were not attributable to the military reaction. These developments leave many of the protestors angry and disheartened. Protests continue, prompting further military action. Riot squad responses to gatherings in Tahrir Square intensify, striking fear in Ahmed. The police start using live ammunition against the protestors, causing many more deaths. Khalid continues his efforts to document and disseminate video evidence of the events of the protests. Magdy goes down to the square against the explicit orders of the Brotherhood, as he can no longer stand to see his fellow protestors suffer. Ahmed returns to the square despite feeling frightened and demoralized to help set up barricades. During the fighting Ahmed is injured by a bullet and brought to a makeshift field hospital. The military spreads tear gas into the hospital, forcing the patients to be moved. A military spokesperson denounces the videos of military brutality as a smear campaign, and announces that elections will be going forward unimpeded. Khalid, frustrated, publicly speaks out against the military once again. Ahmed starts to recover from his injury and returns home, disguising his injury from his mother. The Brotherhood’s deal with the military ensures them victory in the Parliamentary elections, and they prepare for presidential elections as the year 2012 begins. At a Muslim Brotherhood rally, Ahmed tries to convince attendees that the revolution encompassed far more than just the Brotherhood, but his pleas fall on deaf ears and he leaves, frustrated. General Hamdy Bekheit goes on television and claims that the military is taking appropriate reactions to the situation, and denies allegations of brutality. Khalid puts on a film presentation at Tahrir Square to reinvigorate the protestors. On May 24th, 2012, presidential elections are held, although the protestors resent the fact that they have no middle ground between Mubarak’s successor and the Muslim Brotherhood, both attempting to co-opt the revolution for their own gain. Mohamed Morsi wins the election by a narrow margin, prompting celebration from some and outrage from others. Ahmed believes that the Brotherhood can still be overcome by street protests, and that their position will incite resentment from the Egyptian people. After 150 days, Morsi proves to be unwilling to carry out the demands of the revolution, and appears to be beholden to the Brotherhood Supreme Leader, having drafted a new constitution favorable to Muslims. Conflict between the Brotherhood and protestors rises as the year 2013 begins. Magdy encounters anger from his former friends when he asks them to give Morsi a chance. A massive protest is staged outside of the presidential palace, and Morsi gives a speech which Khalid interprets as giving people free license to attack the protestors. The Brotherhood organizes attacks on protestors and tears down their tents. Magdy is highly disturbed when he learns that his son was among those attacking protestors. Many Egyptians balk at Morsi’s actions in office, giving himself vast presidential powers without the chance of appeal; he is dubbed by some as the “new Pharaoh.” By the summer of 2013, protests against Morsi intensify all over Egypt. Magdy is accused of being a traitor, but defends his position by saying that he believed the Brotherhood represented his best interests at the time, and his wife notes that the Brotherhood allowed him to support his five children. A petition is created to ask for Morsi’s resignation and the establishment of a transitional government, garnering over eighteen million signatures. On June 30th, a protest calling for his resignation is held, and Ahmed feels confident that the people are willing to do whatever it takes to reclaim their basic human rights. The protest draws millions of protestors, making it possibly the largest demonstration in human history. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood holds their own sit-in, and Magdy attends as well, concerned that some of them have brought weapons to defend themselves. The protestors succeed in getting the government to call for an early election, leaving the head of the constitutional court as the interim president until the election concludes. The protestors celebrate at their victory, but the pro-Morsi demonstration reports a number of casualties, apparently from live bullet fire. Ahmed tries to reconcile with Magdy, expressing sorrow at the bloodshed. Despite their differences, they agree that they both want what’s best for Egypt and they respect each other. Magdy desires a better life for himself and his family, and believes that the revolution has only just begun. Khalid concurs, but believes that the revolution is creating a foundation on which its goals can be eventually built many years down the line, ensuring dignity and freedom for all Egyptians. Ahmed notes that the people are “looking for a conscience,” and that once the spirit of those people are united they will be able to govern themselves properly. An epilogue notes that Magdy was violently removed from the pro-Morsi sit-in in August 2013, where hundreds were killed by security forces, and that Ahmed and Khalid continue to seek alternatives to Brotherhood rule of the country.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: January 18, 2013
- RUNNING TIME: 1:48:09
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 113742
- GENRE: Public affairs/documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Public affairs/documentaries
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Daniele E. Catullo III … Executive Producer
- Geralyn Dreyfous … Executive Producer
- Alexandra Johnes … Executive Producer
- Mike Lerner … Executive Producer
- Lekha Singh … Executive Producer
- Gavin Dougan … Executive Producer
- Jodie Evans … Executive Producer
- Sarah Johnson … Executive Producer
- Khalil Noujaim … Executive Producer
- Jeff Skoll … Executive Producer
- Lisa Nishimura … Executive Producer
- Adam Del Deo … Executive Producer
- Nicole Guillemet … Co-Executive Producer
- Maxyne Franklin … Co-Executive Producer
- Arif Naqvi … Co-Executive Producer
- Clark Langon … Co-Executive Producer
- Karim Amer … Producer
- Kim Spikes … Producer
- Michelle Lerner … Producer
- Muhammed Hamdy … Co-Producer
- Pedro Kos … Co-Producer
- Caryn Horowitz … Co-Producer
- Dina Amer … Associate Producer
- Cressida Trew … Associate Producer
- Yasmin Kamel … Associate Producer
- Virginia Cromie … Associate Producer
- Jehane Noujaim … Director
- H. Scott Salinas … Music by
- Jonas Colstrup … Music by
- Ahmed Hassan … Subject
- Magdy Ashour … Subject
- Khalid Abdalla … Subject
- Aida El Kashef … Subject
- Ramy Essam … Subject
- Pierre Sioufi … Subject
- Hamdy Bekheit … Subject
- Gehad Ashour … Subject
- Assem Ashour … Subject
- Mona Anis … Subject
- Ragia Omran … Subject
- Buthayna Kamel … Subject
- Hossam Abdalla … Subject
- Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi
- Anderson Cooper
- Mina Daniel
- Mohamed Morsi
- Hosni Mubarak