A medieval movie with a difference

To mark the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring, Netflix streamed the Egyptian movie After the Battle (2012) which covers the aftermath of a certain event known in the Arab world as: The Battle of the Camel.

It took place on February 2, 2011 — a week after the abdication of Mubarak — right in the middle of Tahrir Square, where a group of men on camel and horse backs charged right into protesters and innocent bystanders. The shocking scene gave rise to horrified screams from us viewers, as the animals stomped people while their riders violently used sticks and whips to separate the crowds.

It felt like something out of a medieval movie with a difference: everyone wore modern clothes and it was broadcasting live. This terrible event left 11 killed and 2,000 injured. But what was the reason behind it?

Director Yousri Nasrallah tries to answer this question in this movie by presenting Mahmoud (Bassem Samra) one of the riders taking part in the Battle of the Camel. His deed is instantly punished as he’s shunned by the whole society which held him responsible for the innocent blood that was spilled that day.

However, things change instantly when Reem (Menna Shalabi) the social activist enters his life and tries to understand the motive behind him — along with his other colleagues working in the tourism sector that was badly hit during the Arab Spring — taking part in the battle.

Reem becomes the link between him and the new post-revolution society, where she presents him with the ideals that many of her young generation believe in and dream of applying in their actual society: a decent existence marked by freedom and dignity.

But could their naïve dreams come true in a society where social classes are world apart? How could their theories of social justice be applied when many of the poor are struggling to make ends meet?

Was Mahmoud just following the orders of the former government by attacking the protesters or was it a premeditated action as claimed by many?

Although the movie tries to justify the action of the participants in the battle, yet it also sheds a light on how many of the low working class were isolated from the revolution that was taking place nearby them as many believed that it was the reason behind their unemployment.

The choice of actors is good, Bassem Samra perfects the role of the simple horse trainer who’s life centres round his small family and stallion. Nahid El Sebai who plays his wife is very convincing in the role of the working mother who struggles between her menial job, her children and a brooding jobless husband.

The scenes where the two visit the Tahrir Square for the first time is memorable as their initial bewilderment immediately turns into an urge to be part of the rise just like everyone else.

Even the choice of extras was remarkable as all of them were non-actors which made the dialogues — especially the ones concerning the revolution — genuinely enlightening.

After the Battle was Egypt’s first movie to compete for the Palm d’Or in Cannes film festival in 15 years. However, it didn’t do well in the box office. Many Egyptians boycotted the movie considering it an anti-revolution one that justified heinous murders; where the culprits were never caught or punished.

Also, being co-produced by the French, Nasrallah was accused of making a movie intended for Europeans and international film festivals. But despite the controversy, it’s worth watching as it presents an interesting viewpoint: simple characters caught in a complicated situation.

(The writer is a certified skills trainer and an author)