About The Film
The Arab Spring mesmerized the world’s attention and Egypt has been perhaps the most riveting. It was unthinkable that a massive uprising would be launched on a date set by social media, and even more unthinkable that it would eventually lead to the downfall of a president who had been in power for nearly 30 years. For 18 days, millions around the world were glued to their screens in fascination.And Egyptian independent media played an important, unprecedented role from day one. “Reporting …A Revolution” brings you to the heart of it all. It penetrates deep into what really happened on the frontlines and in the streets, and dives into the heart of the revolution.
This is the story of six young Egyptian journalists who lived their entire lives under Hosni Mubarak’s corrupt, authoritarian regime and suddenly found themselves reporting on the story of their lifetimes. Using the very footage these reporters used to tell the story of the revolution they talk about how they were able to report while staying alive – and staying sane.
On the evening of January 28, armed only with his video camera,BassamMortada, a film director and video trainer with Al-Masry Al Youm, Egypt’s leading independent newspaper, is severely injured by security forces while crossing the bridge into TahrirSquare. In the midst of his pain and fear, all he could think of was the journalists he helped train to use video. These journalists worked constantly on the frontline and faced grave dangers. That evening,hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured. Nora Younis, Ahmed Ragab, MostafaBahgat, Samah Abdel Aaty, Shaymaa Adel and Ahmed Abdel Fatah, all Al-Masry Al-Youm journalists,lived to tell their story. They risked their lives to report on the revolution.
With minimum communication as mobile and Internet connections were cut they were confronted with so many obstacles to get their stories across. Luck, prudence and determination played a vital role in allowing their work to reach the world and their videos to go viral.
Reporting from different locations between Cairo and Suez, all six dealt with so much grief and agony. After moving through where they were and what they saw, these reporters expose their deepest feelings and talk about their personal struggles. The most agonizing dilemma for all was balancing their professional dutieswith their sense of national responsibility. They all questioned their roles as journalists versus that of a citizens. Should they film or join the demonstrations? Can they stay neutral in the face of the injustice and brutality around them? How deeply involved should they be? “Reporting …A Revolution” is a journey of desperation and grief, followed by joy and excitement. It covers 18 days and ends with Mubarak stepping down and handing power to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. Using previously unseen footage, the film is an important record of Egypt’s 18 days of uprising. It is also a profound tribute to the role of independent media in freeing societies.
