We Are Egypt: The Story Behind the Revolution

Better than most news agencies did, an embedded filmmaker here explains the players and issues involved in the climactic "Arab Spring" Egyptian uprising in early 2011, which overthrew the long-entrenched National Democratic Party (NDP) and government of Hosni Mubarak. In voiceover, director Lillie Paquette describes herself as a D.C. functionary and U.S. representative in the Mideast who realized how unpopular America was among Egyptians for propping up the Cairo government. Her story adopts a semi-video-diary format, counting down to crucial late-2010 elections as she speaks personally with the various opposition political groups, dissidents, and candidates (one, the nephew of the assassinated Anwar Sadat). These factions rise to challenge the 30-year stranglehold of the NDP, yet make no headway in rigged ballots, and occasionally members are jailed on trumped-up charges. Viewers are told that the popular and well-organized Muslim Brotherhood party was deliberately allowed by the NDP to gain a foothold in Parliament—in order to deliver a warning to Washington that the nation could slide into Islamic militancy if true democracy were allowed. Paquette even has an audience with a slick NDP spokesman, plus gets a few words from surprise guest celebrity, Omar Sharif. The extensive extras include behind-the-scenes updates, and extended comments from Sharif, who was a witness to Egypt's 1952 revolution against the original monarchy. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)