Extra credit Cameron Watson

  This documentary was by far the most moving and inspirational documentaries that I have truly ever seen.  This is a documentary shaped through the eyes of six Egyptian protestors that are armed with nothing more than a camera.  The Egyptian revolution has been an on going process over the past two and a half yeas.  Many people have risen to the occasion and made a valiant attempt to protest for freedoms that have mpg been granted but this time, through this documentary comes the most outstanding protest of them all.  A whole nation against the almost tyrannical leader Hosni Mubarak formed in the center of Tahrir Square hence the documentary title "The Sqaure".  Through this uprising, came the downfall of two governments and without the protest and persistent effort to sustain the violence, hatred, and cruel and unusual punishment, Egypt would have been the same. 

With an overall review of this documentary, if I were a film critic I would give this film an 8 out of 10.  It is very difficult for a film to be shot and for it to actually turn out visible and streamable to the public.  I think that is what I liked the most was that it was a street-level documentary.  This means that it was shot from a perspective of people who were actually there at the time of of the uprising.  Obviously it was shot by the six different characters and people present throughout the film.  My favorite character was Ahmed Hassan.  Ahmed is seen at the beginning of the film and plays a very important role.  He if first seen in his home on Facebook watching a video posted by someone he knows, a girl who lives in Egypt close to him.  She is going on about how tomorrow she will present a sign and protest for equal rights and that if you are seeing this video, to please come and join in the uprising.  The nest day, Ahmed joins the uprising and realizes that there is an entire nation that feels the same way that him and his friend from Facebook feel.  He is a key part of the defense of Tahrir in the 18 days leading up to Mubarak's resignation, and all of the occupations of the square since.  Very few weaknesses presented throughout this documentary.  The only thing that I can think of that I maybe didn't care for that much was obviously I speak english so the subtitles were sometimes a pain but other than that it was a very well put together film.  I really enjoyed how it all tied together in the end, that after all was said in done, the uprising wasn't just for nothing and it was worth participating and most of all, following through with.  A big theme throughout the documentary was this idea of  freedoms that every human being should be entitled to.  This idea that people are claiming their rights and providing a social conscience.  

     The situation in Egypt today is different than it was before.  Egypt remains locked in a protracted process of political transition after the resignation of the long-serving leader Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. The country is deeply divided between Islamist and secular groups, while the Egyptian Military remains the country's main political decision-maker.  The results of the first democratic elections held in 2011/12, won overwhelmingly by Islamist parties, were nullified, leaving Egypt with no elected state institutions. Egypt’s first democratically elected parliament in decades was dissolved in June 2012. The best hopes for a solution in Egypt is to elect a leader that is going to be fair to the entire Egyptian population and treat each and every person with the utmost respect and generosity.  After watching this documentary I now see how nice we as Americans have it and it makes me take the time to reflect and be thankful for the political world we live in and the things that I have in my life.