FILM REVIEW Private Revolutions - Young, Female, Egyptian

The world premiere of the documentary 'Private Revolutions - Young, Female, Egyptian' by Austrian director Alexandra Schneider has been shown recently at the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF). The film covers the period from the beginning of the Egyptian revolution until the announcement of the first democratic elections in the country. Schneider follows the lives of four Egyptian women: Fatema, Sharbat, Amani and May, which is far from ideal. In a way, these four women are the personification of today's Egypt, given that all belong to different ideological and social category.

Alexandra Schneider, the director of the documentary / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Fatema Abouzeid is an active member of the Muslim Brotherhood and a daughter of a hi ranking politician of the movement; Sharbat Abdallah is a woman of a lower social status, trying to be a part of the protest wave; Amani Eltunsi is a feminist and owner of a radio station and May Gah Allah is Nubian who is trying to start a development project in southern Egypt.

The film in a very positive way emphasizes the role of Fatema as enlightened and educated Muslim, having a Master of Political Sciences and the mother of three children. The story follows her work on the election campaign of the Muslim Brotherhood. Unlike the street activist Sharbat, mother of three children and recently divorced, that is presented as politically disoriented person without a clear vision of the future of Egypt, and therefore easily manipulated. Amani is trying, through her radio station and her books, to spread feminism, and the awareness of the new social values, inspired by Western countries and therefore experiences considerable opposition by the regime. Her books are burnt and her radio station is hacked so she can no longer broadcast. She tries to leave Egypt and goes to Dubai but soon returns back. Finally, we witness all the problems May has, trying to establish an educational and sports infrastructure project in the southern Egypt, which would enable easier education and happier life for young Nubian generations.

Screens from the Documentray Film 'Private Revolutions - Young, Female, Egyptian'

Amani Eltunsi / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Amani Eltunsi / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Fatema Abouzeid / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Fatema Abouzeid / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Sharbat Abdallah / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Sharbat Abdallah / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

May Gah Allah / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

May Gah Allah / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

Women protest / Photo © Daniela Praher Filmproduktion

At the end of the screening, there was a discussion with Alexandra Schneider about the film and her experience while living in Egypt for two years. The world premiere of the documentary was attended by Sarajevo audience and the Egyptian Consul in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Basic Information about the documentary

English, Arabic (Ger/Eng sub), HD, Dolby Stereo, 98 min, cinema version & 52 min, TV version

Director: Alexandra Schneider / Producer: Daniela Praher / Cinematography: Sandra Merseburger, Alexandra Schneider / Editing: Alexandra Löwy / Sound: Alexandra Schneider, Daniela Praher / Sound Design: Andreas Pils / Colour Grading: Kurt Hennrich / Music: Julian Hruza, Fayrouz Karawaya / With: Sharbat Abdallah, Fatema Abouzeid, Amani Eltunsi, May Gah Allah

Supported by ORF Film/Fernsehabkommen, bm:ukk, Land Oberösterreich, Heinrich Böll Stiftung

Learn more about the documentary HERE.