User Reviews

I saw this film months after the previous review. Obviously, the filmmakers went back and re-edited their work. The resulting film is powerful, insightful and helpful to those of us for whom "Egypt" conjures images of the pyramids.

This film shows very clearly how an idea of justice and government by the people can be co-opted by those who do not necessarily have the same goals. In the end, it also asks of us, the viewers, "What are you willing to do to change a situation?" It also points out that change doesn't happen quickly or easily. Most effectively, the story follows specific individuals and makes one care about how the outcome will effect them.

Americans, take note. Most of those who chanted "Yes, we can" meant "yes, HE can" and then expected the dirty work of change to be others' responsibility. This shows how hard change really is. Don't miss it.

Hard to digest at first, but ultimately a fantastic film. I have seen many "documentaries" on the Arab Spring, and none have come close to covering a revolution so completely. I recall seeing the director, Jehane Noujaim on (I believe) the today show last year after she was arrested by the police or Army in Cairo and put in prison while making this film. I can only applaud when, aside from risking their lives, a filmmaker takes on the task of condensing 2 years of history into less than 2 hours of what sums up a truly complicated and twisted situation which may be the most influential of the Arab Spring. When Syrians finally take down their dictator, will they be able to watch this film and get all the answers? Definitely not, but this films gives a real and raw insight into not only what it means to be a revolutionary, but where the path of the revolutionary really ends.

S.F.

The Square is a powerful movie with its focus on the quest for freedom and the desire to escape the prisons of oppression, violence, and evil leaders animated by merciless power and total disregard for human rights.

On and off between late 2010 and 2013, thousands of protesters against "injustice, corruption, poverty, ignorance" filled Tahrir Square in Cairo,

But it was not over when Mubarak was ousted as the military took control. The people once again marched to the square demanding civilian rule.

We see incredible footage of the people's occupation of Tahrir Square, the violent attacks on the protesters, and heated political arguments in the street as secular Muslims express their embarrassment at the religious-based oppression by the newly powerful Brotherhood.

This is a sharp warning to the powerful not to mess with the people that will resonate with anyone anywhere.

As both an Egyptian and a Filmmaker, I could not have been more proud of this title. The Square is a MUST SEE documentary. which takes you from the very beginning of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, until recent events that occurred throughout the past three years.

The Square focuses on a perspective that didn't have it's voice in the mainstream media, the liberal perspective. A point of view that basically initiated the Egyptian revolution. It's ambition doesn't necessarily focus on appointing a new leader nor a new constitution. But on how an Egyptian were dismissing the needs of another Egyptian for their own political interests. Although Director Jehane Noujaim showed the various different perspectives on the revolution, she succeeded on finding the ultimate common interest that led to the downfall of The Mubarak Regime, The Supreme Court of Armed Forces and last but not least, The Muslim Brotherhood.

The style of filmmaking and editing also contribute heavily on the film. The way the story transitions through music and art was spectacular. This proves what an individual can do with a camera.

The awards that went to this movie doesn't even give it justice. But the movie itself gives justice to the people of Egypt and to those who lost their souls fighting for it.

The moment the film started, my blood was running at a high-octane buzz. As someone who cares deeply about social movements in general and the Middle East specifically, I was elsewhere through the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution, so learned many of the details from this film firsthand. The story is long, chaotic, and without definitive resolution, just like the moment it follows. That is its strength, and its legacy.

We meet 5 courageous characters, a variety of Egyptians, and we learn why they devoted the last two years of their lives to protesting in the square. The way they speak about their country is heartbreakingly direct, and when they suffer for their goals it's heartbreaking. Interesting, too, is the balance of art, protest, technology, discussion, and music in the protester's toolkits. The picture is up-close, traumatic, and fast-paced, which was all the better. When a story is ongoing, I don't want a portrait with clear summaries and 20/20 hindsight. I want the information that the revolutionaries had as they made their decisions.

'It's less a need for a leader and more for a conscience'--quote from one of the revolutionaries I have yet to see "The Act of Killing" and "20 Feet From Stardom", so I cannot say that "The Square" should be the Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature. However, I have a hard time imagining a documentary better than "The Square". It's what a documentary should be--it involves the viewer, fills them with anger about a problem and offers some sort of hope.

"The Square" is a film about the Egyptian Revolution--something that is not yet complete and is in its third year. The film traces the steps that have occurred from the standpoint of folks who have staged sit-ins at Tahrir Square. The Revolution occurred because, quite simply, folks were sick and tired of the repression, torture and violence done by the Mubarak military-backed regime. At first, all groups opposed to the government banded together--they all wanted change. However, through the course of the Revolution, those opposing the government soon fell into two camps--the Muslim Brotherhood (which wanted a government based on Sharia law; i.e., a strict theocracy) and the rest who were pushing for democratic freedoms. And, sadly, as the process continued, the Brotherhood soon allied itself with the military. It seemed that individual freedom was NOT what the organization was about after all--they just wanted power for themselves and not the other dissidents. What's to happen? After all, the leader of the Brotherhood has just been elected president and the legislature is controlled by them as well. Well, oddly, the democratic groups had one final ally--the military!! Weird, as now the military is back in control--and with the consent, for now, of the democracy movement! Obviously, the Revolution is far from over.

The film is a must-see for everyone, as the news media here in the US has done a terrible job covering the events. And, too often, they just parrot the administration's assertion that the Brotherhood is a representative government. It's also a must-see because it shows various sides of the conflict and is highly informative. Additionally, you really have to admire the filmmakers--they could have easily been killed filming some of the scenes. Exceptional.

This is a very important documentary. Not only is it a historical record from the people's perspective of the revolution in Tehrir Square, it's a message to the world about the power of the people and human consciousness awakening in the face of oppression. You can't really comprehend this as a news story until you see the immense outpouring of emotion and energy that was (and still is) created by the Egyptian people from the ground level. I learned a lot about the struggle and situation in Egypt from this film. This should be a must see for young people all over the world. This film has been revised since it's earlier form (to take advantage of recent events) so I can only speak to it's current form but the editing assistance from Pedro Kos can't be understated. A tour de force by director Jehane Noujaim and amazing footage from their crew. This is a powerful, must see documentary.

Greetings again from the darkness. This is the third of this year's five Oscar nominated documentaries I have seen, and thanks to the historic Texas Theatre, I'll get to see the last two as well. This one is directed by Cairo born and Harvard educated Jehane Noujaim. She sets out to capture the Egyption Revolution, as part of the Arab Spring, and now in it's third year. This is a look from inside the core of the revolution, not a washed-over CNN report.

It should first be noted that this revolution began as more of a protest. Citizens just fed up with the Mubarek regime began congregating in Tahrir Square in hopes of influencing change and a transition to a society of conscience. Ms. Noujaim and her multitude of cameras follows a hand full of these protesters and the changes that occur inside the revolution. These changes occur as Mubarek falls, the military takes over and betrays the movement, and then the Muslim Brotherhood takes control when Mohamed Morsi wins the election. This causes the loss of solidarity in the movement as it becomes clear that the Brotherhood consorted with the military to gain power, proving their mission was quite different.

One of the faces of the revolution is Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla who you might recognize from the fine 2007 film The Kite Runner. Abdalla speaks excellent English and is clearly passionate about the vision. His comments also drive home the difference in a protest and the politics of a true revolution. We only get a couple of on camera comments from government and military officials, but the real insight and spirit of the film is captured in the faces, words and actions of those involved in the sit-ins, despite the many violent attempts to shut them down.

The most staggering visual comes from an aerial view of Cairo as the camera captures the masses as they descend on the streets during the third uprising that we see. It's breathtaking and in stark contrast to the news reports we saw in the U.S. Unfortunately, there is still no resolution in this as Egypt is still in flux and preparing for yet another election. That brings even more power to the "in the moment" point of view that this film delivers. http://moviereviewsfromthedark.com/

Well for starters, it makes it seem as if June 30th is a god-send revolution when it was actually orchestrated by the Military way back when Morsi started ruling evident by the leaked video, by a group of hackers, of Al-Sisi admitting to "building arms in the media to control the public opinion" also the government that followed June 30th let Mubarak go loose, Ahmed Shafik his prime minister returned to Egypt from UAE after he was hiding there. Also in the constitution referendum (Post-coup) "Yes" until now is winning by 97% which means 97% of the Egyptians agree on the constitution, Is that not enough evidence to prove Mubarak's return? Mubarak won his elections by not less than 99% ! Also it makes it seem as the Brotherhood doesn't have any supporters when in fact they constitute the biggest portion of the anti-coup protesters and they have been protesting for more than 7 months. the coup government has also announced that the Brotherhood along with the "revolutionaries" who the Brotherhood supposedly betrayed them as terrorist organizations.

Notes The revolutionaries in this movie are embodied in real life as April 6th Youth Movement Pre-coup and have divided post-coup to April 6th Youth Movement, Ahrar Movement and RevSoc.

If someone wants to ask about a certain event, I'll answer with complete unbiased answers. You all should know the truth. All Mubarak supporters are the only happy ones with the result of June 30th.

The country of Egypt is a complete mess and so is this documentary. Throughout the whole documentary, I could not tell what was going on. Director Jehane Noujaim takes clips from several video cameras and places them in a confusing order. The film starts with the Egyption's president Hosni Mubarak stepping down from office, to the current results of what is happening now. I confess the shots we see here are horrific and if you are not aware of the situation, perhaps this film will tell you in a nutshell. Some of these shots include a live recording of the soldiers shooting down pedestrians and running them over with trucks. I was hoping for more in depth understanding of the people, the government, or the city itself. It does not even explain why these people are still revolting at the Square. Still, it's not like we haven't seen this on the news or the Internet. The editing is by far the poorest. Even with all this great footage, it was unorganized, confusing, and hard to follow where Noujaim was going. It's like having the recipe for delicious brownies without knowing how to cook. Watch the news more and that will suffice.

this movie really touched me. it showed the real story. the story has almost been forgotten because of the media,the ruling regime,the soldiers of the old regime ... As an Egyptian and as a participant in the revolution since the 28th of January 2011,I can tell that this movie shows one of the most honest images of the revolution as well as a complete one,of course some events were dropped, but as an overall all major events and the complete story- line of the revolution has been told. Despite being a documentary,it is also very clear that the movie reserved the thriller and the spirit in every single moment. can't agree more about all the opinions stated in it. can't agree more about the sequence and the severity and reactions of the events showed in. But our (the Egyptians) major problem until now is that after 3 years we didn't accomplish the demands and the requests of the revolution. I hope there would be more parts of this movie,more parts until we reclaim our freedom and demands.

Director Jehane Noujaim delivers a riveting documentary with "The Square,"which manages to powerfully convey the chaos, complexity, and inherent dangers of a Revolutionary movement. The film boldly provides a perspective unattainable by journalists, and the activity recorded from 2011 to 2013 captures the passion and defiance of a movement first hand. The fight for a democratic Egypt is far from over, which is part of what makes the film so dynamic and riveting.

"The Square" is a documentary that traces the events of Egypt's Tahrir Square protests beginning in early 2011 when millions of people took to the streets to demand the removal of President/Dictator Hosni Mubarek, who held power for 30 years. However, when Mubarek is overthrown, the army steps in to temporarily take over the countries affairs, but does not follow through with their promises to its citizens.

After a free and fair election, the military fascist dictatorship is essentially replaced by a religious fascist dictatorship under President Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood. Once again, the protesters unite and return to the Square to face a violent military oppression. It's a harrowing narrative of people twice betrayed: once by the army and again by militant Islamists who insist on a constitution based on religion instead of secularism.

Noujaim tells the story primarily through focusing on three activists, all of whom are friends. A charismatic, young artist named Ahmed Hassan, a British accented actor- turned activist Khalid Abdalla ("United 93"and "The Kite Runner"), and a family man Magdy Ashour, who is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood who finds his loyalties to his friends tested. The film's storyline follows the revolutionaries through the euphoria of victory, followed with the uncertainties and dangers while under military rule that threatens the politics of democracy.

"The Square" documents the promise and hope of a better future at the beginning, but by the end, you are left with an overwhelming sense of opportunities lost. While a more detailed back story of political maneuvering would have provided welcome context, its implications for the future are extraordinary. The revolution is a work in progress, a rebellion against an oppressive regime, and a call to arms for true democratic ideals. Informative international media outlets are few, and international news rarely generates much interest in the US. Ever more so it's the courageous filmmakers recording history with hand-held cameras that are filling the void.

I always said that the Egyptian people should win an Oscar for their revolutionary spirits, and this film proves just that!! The fact that the first Egyptian film to be nominated for an Oscar is a film about Tahrir square, is nothing short of amazing!! And the fact that it is actually banned from being screened in Egypt, is a testament to the corruption that persists.

I was too much of a coward to join the protests in Tahrir in 2011, but this film made me feel like I was right there. It takes you back on a memory lane through all the struggles that happened in the square, all the shifts and dilemmas. I was so glad that the film showed different viewpoints of people. It showed the standpoint of not just the rebellious youth but also of the opposing people in authority. It also presented the ideology of the Muslim brotherhood in a very humane way, instead of portraying them as terrorist like Egyptian media currently does. Above all, it portrayed military brutality!! And that in itself is the biggest triumph of the film since military authorities are now brainwashing people like never before.

I must say that every Egyptian needs to see this film to be reminded of the corruption of military rulers, of the thousands of souls we lost, and of the quest for freedom we all started 3 years ago, which most of us have become cynical about today.

It is sad to realize that now that the square is empty, even though the ideals that the people fought and died for are still nowhere to be found. I had actually given up on the dream that this country will ever change, but after seeing this film and seeing that there are people still fighting out there, I can hope once more.

Viewed at Los Angeles Preview, Dec. 2013: "The Square" (Al Meidan). a new documentary thriller straight from the barricades in Cairo, has received the Best Documentary of the year award and has turned out to be one of the hottest film events of the tail end of calendar year 2013. PHOTO: Ahmad Hassan, young protester rides atop a triumphant crowd in Tehrir Square

"The Square" (Tehrir Square in Cairo, scene of all the major Egyptian protest demonstrations of the past two years) a two hour long documentary on the Nightmarish 'Arab Spring' in Egypt, is an astounding personal summary of the events in Egypt from the fall of the Mubarak dictatorship in early 2011 to the rise and fall of the Moslem Brotherhood under "legally elected" Islamist president Morsi just a few months ago.

Intrepid female director, Jehane Noujaim, an American Egyptian filmmaker went to Cairo in January 2011 to witness the historical events taking place in her home town with no such ambitious film project yet in mind ..

The reality on the ground in front of her eyes in the very neighborhood where she grew up — with cataclysmic political changes already underway — prompted her to set up a team to record these unfolding events in proper professional style. She and her team stayed with the ongoing insurrection for two years, through thick and thin, focusing on the personalities of three central impromptu revolutionaries, while placing themselves directly in the line of fire.

What emerges is a you-are-there documentary that is more cinema vérité than classical documentary — like news flashes from the front lines with a Hollywood thriller plot line to boot.

Basically she followed three regular Tehrir protesters around, both on the street during life- threatening situations, and off the street in private interviews reflecting on the events in progress. One, Ahmed Hassan simply speaks straight from the shoulder with no pretensions whatsoever. Ahmed is an average guy who is convinced that the time for the common people to regain their dignity after decades of humiliation and oppression under Mubarak has finally come. He just happens to have the disarming charm and charisma of a Leonardo Di Caprio.

Khalid Abdallah is a professional British actor of Egyptian background with a Cambridge degree. In 2006 he played the leader of the Arab hijackers in Paul Greengrass's 9/11 drama "Flight 93″. In Jehane's Square he plays himself — an ordinary Egyptian with a conscience crying out for democracy. Khalid takes a more intellectual view than the others but is every bit as committed and willing to put his body on the line. His father back in England is also a longtime advocate of democracy for Egypt. We see Khalid talking to his father via SKYPE in UK to keep him abreast of happenings on the front line in the Square.

The battle lines swing back and forth. After Mubarak is toppled an interim military junta takes over. Finally the Junta agrees to hold "free elections"' however, as Hassan points out with surprising political savvy, the democratic minded opposition in The Square has no cohesive structure, so the choice becomes one between the fundamentalist minded Moslem Brotherhood, or a continuation of Mubarak style Military rule — in other words not much of a choice at all for the democracy minded activists who represent the bulk of the Egyptian populace.

The Botherhood — the "Akhwan" — win by a slim majority and Morsi takes over — as a "legally elected" president. At first even Washington supports him, but it soon becomes clear that Morsi wants to install an Islamic Dictatorship. Watching Morsi attempting to assume dictatoriaĺ powers on television Ahmed Hassan remarks wryly, "He's digging his own grave" — and then leads another charge into The Square. This time Hassan is hit by live ammo and hospitalized, but he recovers quickly and the Moslem Brotherhood regime is also toppled. But what is the new alternative?

The third central figure is Magdy, a personal friend of secular Ahmed but a committed Moslem Brotherhood believer. As events progress we witness his final disappointment and disillusion with the brotherhood in spite of his deep religious feelings. His own son is now an active demonstrator against Brotherhood oppression. At the end of the film, completed just two months ago, the military is back in the drivers seat and the nation is in limbo. In a final sequence the three main figures agree that the opposition is too unstructured and that what is needed is a new constitution — and a new consciousness — but this will take time to work out.

As the year 2014 opens the situation in Egypt is still up in the air with the military cracking down severely, much as was the case under Mubarak. The question now is what is worse?– the military or the Islamists — and will democracy in some form still have a chance?

On very limited release in November 2013 this amazing film was seen by almost nobody because NETFLIX who own the rights, allotted Zero publicity budget. However, The power of Jehane Noujaim's film is such that, if it gets an Oscar in March on top of the Best Documentary distinction already earned it may become an international cause celèbre and may then reach enough people to make a real difference on the ground — not only in Egypt but elsewhere as well. In any case this is a film absolutely not to miss simply as a cinematic adventure that is sure to become a landmark if and when the final chapter of the Arab Spring is ever written.

Filmmaker Jehane Noujaim set herself an impossible task with "The Square": to tell the story of an ongoing revolution in a feature-length documentary.

There have been at least four versions of the film since January this year — as events continued to unfold, more footage was added. In its different forms, the film has been extremely well-received abroad, winning awards, nominations and critical acclaim

Noujaim used footage shot by herself and others. She follows a handful of activists — most intensively, a charismatic young man called Ahmed Hassan and British-Egyptian actor Khalid Abdalla — and the action almost exclusively consists of protests and clashes on the one hand and urgent conversations in apartments on the other. Sound-bites from two interviews with smug army and police officials are interspersed throughout, as well as the odd snippet from speeches by presidents and their military nemeses: Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Mohamed Morsi and Abdel Fattah AL-Sisi. There is an emphasis on the importance of video documentation: often we watch characters watching computer screens — showing each other videos of atrocities, or Khalid talking to Skype.

The footage has clearly been filmed skillfully and bravely: the camera runs up with a charge against security forces in the frantic battle on Mohamed Mahmoud Street, it enters field hospitals, it confronts soldiers, it shows military vehicles running people over.

The first half of the film — one presumes the large part of the director's first cut — serves as a good chronology of the street protests and as such is a useful reminder of what happened in what order. It is also not a bad thing to be forced to watch footage that you haven't seen since the events, or couldn't watch at the time.

The characters say things that sum up the mood of each moment. At the beginning, Ahmed, a great central protagonist in that he talks very eloquently using simple language, says "We are all reflections of each other" and "All of Egypt will be like Tahrir." After the sibilance around Mubarak's resignation, the characters soon realize that the regime has not fallen: "Our biggest mistake was to leave the square" they say, and then: "We do trust the army, but…"

Protests start against military rule. We relive the shock of realizing for the first time that "the police and the army are standing together!" as someone shouts. Ramy Essam, a singer who also has a strong presence at the beginning of the film, is one of those arrested by the military and tortured in the Egyptian Museum. While the scenes of Essam immediately following his torture are extremely powerful, Noujaim does' t pull too much on our heartstrings. (The "virginity tests" happening at the same place and time are not mentioned.)

At this point we see the old electrocution scars of the film's Islamist character, an often skeptical Muslim Brotherhood member called Magdy Ashour, from his times in prison under Mubarak. His young daughter talks about the violent arrests that used to take place at their house.

Then the film shows the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood. It's the first time we see praying in "The Square." Chants for an Islamic state. Magdy says, "Some Brotherhood leaders make deals with the army." Ahmed says, " The Brotherhood ruined the sit-in." People argue about whether the country is ready for elections.

Then there is Maspero, October 2011. The footage of the massacre is very clear, as is the footage of squashed faces of dead people deliberately run over by military vehicles, as is the footage of Mina Danial's shocked parents, his elderly father looking vacant, lost, unbelieving. It is awful. Hospitals refusing to stamp autopsies. Amid scenes of candles and tears, there is a shot of a military man half-smiling, saying "Who started attacking first?"

The following month, it's the Mohamed Mahmoud clashes. Magdy joins against Brotherhood orders. Scenes of the violence and scenes of Ahmed, looking white and shaky for the first time, talking to the camera: " People are falling one by one just because they're saying 'Down with military rule'," he says. "Too many bullets … I'm going to explode." Soon enough he's hit in the head, the camera blacks out, we're in a field hospital.

A laughing army official: "The army made the revolution. You kids know nothing."

So far, so good: not a new perspective on the events, but a fairly gripping and clear narrative of what was happening on the streets of downtown Cairo in the first year of the revolution.

But as things get more complicated, the film simplifies more and there is less footage and less information. We rush through Morsi's election, through his outrageous constitutional amendments, through the presidential palace protests.

Throughout, there are close-ups of graffiti being made, paint dripping on shoes to the sound of romantic music.

Maintaining this air of romance around the square is outdated, if not completely false. The hopeful friendship of Magdy and Ahmed has surely not been able to survive the Rabea massacre. Alongside the abrupt ending, this insistence on romance and unity undermines the strong criticisms of military rule in the first half of the film.

The idea of keeping a film alive and changing as times change is exciting and full of potential, but it would have to lose its clear narrative, reflect the complications and chaos of the present as it moves forward. The film in question here is very well-crafted, especially the beginning. But in the end, perhaps it was overambitious and not quite radical, or even revolutionary, enough.

well done Jehane 9\10 !

I cried twice or more I can't remember, all I remember I just saw an unusual documentary. My heart couldn't see it any more.

There is no word could explain the Jan 25, this documentary capture it from many respective and did what the best could been done

This is how documentary movie should be

As an Egyptian and as a participant in the revolution since the 28th of January 2011 ,I can tell that this movie shows one of the most honest images of the revolution as well as a complete one of course some events were dropped, but as an overall all major events and the complete story- line of the revolution has been told.

This movie made us as Egyptians felt very proud of what we have done and what will we do in the future and made me fell that we deserve more than leader we deserve a suitable life

it really touched me and made me cry on most of its parts what a great movie it really deserve Oscar

Now years later, this is still an important documentary, many rights are still not corrected or in place, and yet it provides hope because egypt has so much potential because of the people. I watched it then, and this time there is still much to learn. Great and important movie. Much is going on in the entire region, the movie helps to show real people and that it is possible for people of different walks of life to stand together and exchange ideas and even disagree, but to try to make change together. There should be more like this. Too bad that the egyptians themselves do not have access to this.