You'd think that at some point in history, governments that oppress their people would learn that resistance to change only strengthens the resolve of those having their basic rights denied. A first-hand account of the Arab Spring movement that puts a face on those striving for revolutions, We Are The Giant paints an indelible picture of what it takes to fight for something you truly believe in.
With the stories from the uprising in Egypt already being covered in The Square, this film hones in on those taking place in other Arab countries. We meet an American-born Libyan in his early 20s who fearlessly throws himself into the effort to overthrow Gaddafi despite his father's concerns for his safety. In Syria, we find two activists forced to re-evaluate their belief in peaceful protests when people begin to be slaughtered without provocation. Two sisters in Bahrain, following in the footsteps of their social activist father, use any methods necessary to gain international support.
The raw footage from the ground is disturbing and frightening, as we witness innocent protesters being gunned down by police and bombs reducing entire neighbourhoods to rubble. In one incredible moment, a young girl in the middle of singing a song of freedom is abruptly cut short by a nearby explosion. These horrors are offset by the indomitable will of those that persist in spite of the atrocious acts being committed and the loss of lives around them.
The splashy visuals that interstitially take the viewer on a tour through the history of oppression with newspaper clippings and quotes are impressive, but also slow the momentum a little.
(Motto Pictures)With the stories from the uprising in Egypt already being covered in The Square, this film hones in on those taking place in other Arab countries. We meet an American-born Libyan in his early 20s who fearlessly throws himself into the effort to overthrow Gaddafi despite his father's concerns for his safety. In Syria, we find two activists forced to re-evaluate their belief in peaceful protests when people begin to be slaughtered without provocation. Two sisters in Bahrain, following in the footsteps of their social activist father, use any methods necessary to gain international support.
The raw footage from the ground is disturbing and frightening, as we witness innocent protesters being gunned down by police and bombs reducing entire neighbourhoods to rubble. In one incredible moment, a young girl in the middle of singing a song of freedom is abruptly cut short by a nearby explosion. These horrors are offset by the indomitable will of those that persist in spite of the atrocious acts being committed and the loss of lives around them.
The splashy visuals that interstitially take the viewer on a tour through the history of oppression with newspaper clippings and quotes are impressive, but also slow the momentum a little.
