NYFF AT 51 REVIEW: "THE SQUARE"

BY LIZ WHITTEMORE

I consider myself a pretty educated lady. I try to keep up with politics and international news. After seeing THE SQUARE, I concede I know nothing.  Jehane Noujaim directs a masterful documentary about The Egyptian Revolution from 2011 to August 2013. Armed with nothing but cameras and their words, the 6 main activists come from different walks of life but unite with one mission: to give the people the rights they deserve. Egypt has long been ruled by dictators and military rule. We’ve all seen the videos on the major news outlets but nothing like the view from the ground in real time.

We follow Ahmed Hassan, mid-20’s, is a protester and broadly narrative voice of this project. Khalid Abdalla, mid-30’s, British-Egyptian actor best known for his roles in The Kite Runner and United 93, he brings peoples videos to the web and does numerous interviews for the international media. Magdy, mid-40’s, is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood Security and struggles between his politics and his religion. Ragia Omran, mid-30’s, is a Human rights lawyer and life long friend of Jehane, uses her skills to free over 300 civilians a day from being detained by secret police. Ramy Essam, mid-20’s, is a singer songwriter and his songs becomes Aida El Kashef, mid-20’s, is a filmmaker and actress who sets up the first tent in Tahrir square. These people assemble peacefully and meet each other in the Square. They set aside their religious differences and stood together, sharing food and shelter, and eventually as events deteriorate, they fight together.

While being a witness to this film you learn the most disturbing facts. The Egyptian Military fires real bullets into crowds. There is even footage of a young man named Mina, being run over by a military vehicle. Later the secret police infiltrates the hospital to threaten the doctors not to stamp the official autopsy. They gas the people, arrest thousands, beating and electrocuting them. Then they give speeches to the international media calling the people liars. Clearly the problem the government faces is the ever changing face of technology as a key player in spreading the truth.  The Square is truly an eye-opener. You have to ask yourself, do we blame the media for under reporting or do we blame ourselves for not actively seeking the truth. Their fight continues and our journey with them has just begun.

VERDICT: Must See

Directed by: Jehane Noujaim Language: English Running Time: 104 Minutes Content Advisory: Violence, Language, Graphic Images

BOTTOM LINE: Run to see this. Seek this movie out. This is a film that needs to be shared and lucky for us, Noujaim has promised to keep editing and updating as long as these people have a story to tell.