The Square: A Journey of Hope and Despair

The Square: A Journey of Hope and Despair

The Square, an award winning 2013 Documentary masterpiece, by director Jehane Noujaim, takes audiences right into the heart of the Egyptian Revolution. In her film, Noujaim follows the events of the Egyptian Revolution over the course of three turbulent years, beginning in 2011 and ending in the summer of 2013.

The film chronicles the chaotic events of the Revolution from its beginnings with the overthrow of Mubarak in the spring of 2011 and follows the revolutionaries on a roller coaster ride. Every time it seems the revolutionaries are successful and a new government is announced, their rights are trampled upon again and they re-occupy the square demanding change. These patterns seem to repeat themselves throughout the film from the overthrow of Mubarak, to the period of Military rule, and finally with the Muslim Brotherhood.

The film tells the story of many revolutionaries from the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution, but follows three characters specifically. These men are Khalid Abdalla, Ahmed Hassan, and Magdy Ashour. All three of these men come from different backgrounds, but each have a yearning for change. Hassan is a charismatic idealist with a huge heart, Khalid is a famous Egyptian-Scottish actor who becomes one of the most passionate and articulate spokesman for the revolution, and Magdy is a bearded Islamist who is torn between the Muslim brotherhood and the ideals of his new secular friends. Much of the film’s drama centers around events that happen at Tahrir square. Time and time again dissatisfied Egyptians take to the square to voice their dissent against the ruling regime and every time security services force them out, usually violently.

The film portrays Tahrir Square as a character in its own right. Its clear throughout the film Tahrir is symbolic to the Egyptian people, Ahmed says “whoever holds the square, holds the power.” The square becomes in a sense a microcosm of the Revolution and its chaotic events. This is because every time the revolutionaries occupy the square to voice their dissent they are eventually attacked and dispersed by the regime security forces. Just as with the larger events, every time the Revolutionaries seem to have succeeded, the regime forces double down and tighten their grip.

The film attempts to bring together all kinds of people from Egyptian society in order to create one common Egyptian identity and bring about a cultural shift in the Egyptian people’s belief to effect change. It’s clear that in order to bring about societal change you have to change the culture and the Revolutionaries realize that with Ahmed saying “The Revolution is a culture of a people.” Meaning, in order to bring about real change there has to be a cultural shift in the way people think; they have to start thinking for themselves and taking back their rights. This is a major theme of the film, the idea of a new politically active generation.

Throughout the film, the ruling regime whether it be the military or the Muslim Brotherhood, attempt to divide and conquer the people, but time and time again the protestors push back against this oppression with messages of unity and hope. One of their most significant chants yelled throughout the Tahrir Square was, “No Muslims or Christians, we are one hand.” This theme of unity is explored throughout the film and it can be said that the Revolution is a search for Egypt’s new identity. Sadly, however the revolutionaries push for unity is unsuccessful as the film highlights the divisions among the protestors. Most notably the Muslim Brotherhood is portrayed in a negative light for making back deals with the military in order to further their political agenda. The end of the film leaves a glimmer of hope as the July 2013 Revolution is shown with millions of Egyptians taking to the streets calling for the ouster of Morsi, and Ahmed leaves us with these parting words “We are not looking for a leader…we are looking for a conscience.”

In the end, Noujaim delivers a thought-provoking masterpiece which captures the chaotic events of the Egyptian Revolution as they unfolded. Although The Square was the first Egyptian film nominated for an Academy Award it sadly won’t be shown in Egypt since the military under President Sisi remain firmly in control. However, Noujaim and the Revolutionaries leave us with a message of hope. For although autocracy still reigns, the seeds of revolution have been planted in the minds of all Egyptians and one day they will return to the square.