3) The Square
Another documentary available on Netflix that may be worth checking out before or after Mitt is the streaming service’s first original production to be nominated for an Oscar (definitional ambiguity of Netflix’s “original programming” notwithstanding). This movie took last year’s festival circuit by storm, premiering at Sundance in 2013 and playing Toronto in the fall, earning audience awards at both venues. It has been edited further since its festival screenings to include new developments in its story.
The story it brings to us is an inside look at the Egyptian Revolution that’s been ongoing since its beginning in Tahrir Square back in 2011. News outlets have provided relatively extensive coverage of the events throughout, but never before has there been a look at this revolution, or probably any revolution in history, that is so deeply entrenched in the center of the protests and organizational meetings. Many of the major players are followed over the course of the three years, and the desires of the protesters are never clearer than they are here.
Especially compelling are the scenes in Tahrir Square, where anti-Mubarak demonstrators engage in friendly (and occasionally not as friendly) debates with their detractors. The relationship between initial protests and the eventual apparent exploitation and political organization of anti-government protests by the Muslim Brotherhood is laid bare for all to see. This is one of those documentaries whose very existence is hard to fathom. It’s a must-see.
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Published: Feb 18, 2014 01:18 pm