Tickling Giants

Bassem Youssef set aside his Cairo cardiology practice to become a political satirist during the downfall of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarek in the spring of 2011. Youssef began with brief episodes posted on YouTube that quickly became popular, followed by a regular TV series simply called Al Bernameg (The Program) that was a huge success, but also quickly earned the ire of Mohammed Morsi, the Islamist president elected in 2012, whose administration brought legal action against Youssef (although the case was thrown out). After Morsi was ousted in a military coup in 2013, General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the former defense minister who was elected president in 2014, proved to be more effective at suppression, and the threat of a huge fine compelled Youssef to flee with his family to America (his show had already been forced from the air). Youssef has often been referred to as the “Egyptian Jon Stewart,” and he was inspired by The Daily Show (Stewart later presented him with the International Press Freedom Award in 2013). Director Sara Taksler's documentary effectively covers Youssef's unlikely career, offering plentiful examples of his on-air wit (and exuberance when visiting New York) while also showing how deeply he is affected by threats to his family. Youssef himself offers a running commentary to supplement the collage of news footage, show excerpts, and behind-the-scenes sequences, which are occasionally punctuated by amusing bits of animation. This is a skillful portrait of a courageous funnyman who tried to speak truth to power in an authoritarian state that remains a close U.S. ally. Recommended. [Note: this is also available with public performance rights for $95: public libraries and $395: colleges and universities from Tugg, edu.tugg.com.] Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)