After the Battle Film Difficulty Ranking: 2
Like me, you may have heard of the Arab Spring (2011) and the protests at Tahir Square in Cairo (documented on Netflix’s The Square
For all those not sure – check out the first 45 seconds of this trailer (then turn it off unless you want spoilers!)
Why Watch After the Battle?
- To learn about the political climate and quality of life in Egypt following the Arab Spring in 2011
- Explore gender politics and class structure in Egpyt – lots to discuss!
- It’s not hard to watch – it has the tone of a TV series so all of you can watch it without getting lost in any pretentiousness
- For a great post-Arab Spring viewing companion to Asmaa
The Breakdown
On February 2nd 2011, Tahir Square protestors were attacked by camel and horse riders from the pyramids. This event became known as the Battle of the Camels. Footage of the event shows horse and camel riders riding into protestors armed with whips (and nothing else). One of the riders falls off of his horse and is beaten by the protestors.
Mahmoud is the rider who falls from his horse in the Battle of the Camel. He is a poor horse rider from Nazlat (a suburb of Cairo near the Pyramids) who made his living from tourists. However, a great wall was built to separate the horse riders from the tourists, so he no longer has a job. He has to rely on the ‘good-will’ of his relative/local boss to get by. He is the one who lets him and his family live in their house and provides them with a little income when needed. Mahmoud represents the lower classes that were not represented in the Arab Spring, that have continued to be exploited by their ‘superiors’.
Rim is the woman we follow throughout the film. She is a liberal middle-class woman and a strong activist for the Arab Spring. She is marginalised just like Mahmoud. However, instead of class prejudice, she experiences sexism. After being groped whilst protesting, she is told that the place for a woman is at home, not on the streets. However, her revolutionary ideas meet a challenge when she meets Mahmoud – her antithesis.
Conclusion
Another interesting exploration of Egypt in the aftermath of the Arab Spring (also see Asmaa). The film tries to cover a lot, from gender politics to class, but ultimately manages to cover it all without appearing vague.