Directed by Stefano Savona
Soon after the first reports came about the occupation of Tahrir Square, filmmaker Stefano Savona headed for Cairo, where he stayed, amidst the ever-growing masses in the Square, for weeks. His film introduces us to young Egyptians such as Elsayed, Noha and Ahmed, spending all day and night talking, shouting, singing, finally expressing everything they were forbidden to say out loud until now.
As the protests grow in intensity, the regime's repression becomes more violent, with the terrifying potential for massacre never far away. TAHRIR is a film written in the faces, hands, and voices of those who experienced this period in the Square. It is a day-to-day account of the Egyptian revolution, capturing the anger, fear, resolve and finally elation of those who made it happen.
Reviews
~ "A welcome contrast to the Western media's bird's eye view of the seismic January revolution in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the energetic verite documentary TAHRIR dives right into the action." - Eric Kohn, indieWIRE
~ "The sense of urgency never flags; neither does the protestors' deeply affecting pride in being Egyptian and finally taking control of their destiny. As one woman says, 'We have our dignity back.'" - Jay Weissberg, Variety
~ "TAHRIR records thrillingly the raw chaos of history, gives us the guts of revolt and will fascinate for years to come whatever besets the abused nation who is the film's main character." - James Woodall, The Arts Desk
Awards
~ World Premiere, 2011 Locarno Film Festival
~ Winner, International Competition Tasca d'Almerita Award, 2011 SalinaDocFest, Italy
~ Winner, Grand Prize, 2011 Traces de vies Documentary Film Festival, France
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