Tells the gripping stories of ordinary individuals who are transformed by the critical moral and personal challenges they encounter when standing up for what they believe is right. Powerful, tragic and yet ultimately inspirational, their struggles for freedom echo across history, and offer hope against seemingly impossible odds.
A little baroque in its presentation, this is nevertheless a pungent and hard-hitting look at the events across Arabia in December 2010. A worthy companion piece to The Square.
Barker’s approach starts simplistic but gathers in complexity, insight and moral force with each story.
The film doesn’t analyse the less savoury by-products which have risen up during the Arab Spring, instead it single-mindedly sticks to its chief purpose: showing how good people can be forced to the brink by the bloodthirsty actions of unscrupulous tyrants.
Structurally, the film is a little cumbersome. The footage of Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and other heroes of peaceful protest is a distraction. The three main stories, though, are inspiring and shocking by turns.
A heartfelt portrait of courage.
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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