About the film

Months after Hosni Mubarak stepped down, Egyptians country-wide seem determined to maintain the insurgency until their demands are met. It is therefore too premature to expect filmmakers to imagine fictions that convey the unimaginable experience of the uprising. A different predicament hangs over documentary cinema, and Tahrir 2011 is a laudable attempt to steer away from reportage and reflect on what historians will index as the first chapter of the uprising. Structured in three chapters, the film playfully debunks misconceptions and stereotypes. The Good, directed by Tamer Ezzat, gives voice to the everyday heroes from Tahrir Square. We encounter a group whose political, cultural and regional affiliations could not be more different, but who each embody the spirit of the millions who camped in Tahrir during the eighteen-day siege. The Bad, directed by Ayten Amin, films a rare account from four internal security officers assigned to crush the uprising. As they explain their role on the other side of the figurative trenches, their testimonials give chilling insight into the mindset and strategy of Mubarak’s security apparatus when it came to silencing dissent. The Politician, directed by Amr Salama, offers a satirical take on “how to become a dictator in ten steps”, and a smart deconstruction of Mubarak’s persona over his thirty-year rule. Salama interviews figures who have observed Mubarak closely, whether as trusted associates or outspoken opponents, such as Mohamed El Baradei, renowned contender for the presidency.

Wybrane nagrody i festiwale/Selected festivals and awards: 2011 - MFF Wenecja, Nagroda CICT-UNESCO “Enrico Fulchignoni”/Venice IFF, CICT-UNESCO “Enrico Fulchignoni” Award, 2011 - MFF Toronto/Toronto IFF