Watch Tickling Giants

Tickling Giants is a 2016 documentary about the amazing story of Bassem Youssef, a heart surgeon who left his profession to become a comedian in post-revolution Egypt. The film depicts how his satirical TV show became a unifying force for Egyptians during the Arab Spring and how he was eventually forced into exile by the Egyptian government.

The documentary primarily follows Bassem Youssef and his team as they create, and later host, the political satire show, Al-Bernameg (The Show), in Cairo, Egypt. Through interviews, archive footage, and behind-the-scenes looks, the movie paints a picture of Egypt during the initial stages of the Arab Spring and shows how Bassem's show managed to tickle the funny bones of a nation struggling to cope with political and social upheaval.

The movie establishes Bassem as a symbol of hope and resistance while contextualizing his career as a comedian within the broader context of Arab satire. With Jon Stewart as his mentor and inspirator, the show rapidly became a sensation in the region, receiving millions of views every week. Bassem, together with his crew and team of writers, poked fun at politicians and all the important people in Egyptian politics, breaking the taboo of criticizing the establishment within media and TV.

Tickling Giants highlights many of the challenges that Bassem faced while creating and hosting Al-Bernameg. Bassem would often receive death and sexual abuse threats from individuals with allegiance to the Egyptian government. The movie shows how Bassem’s team was forced to work under the constant threat of physical harm from the country's security services, to the point where they feared for their lives. The documentary illustrates the impact of political repression and censorship on those who exercise their right to free speech and the adverse consequences such actions can have on individuals and society as a whole.

The documentary is essentially a tribute to those who dared to critique the political establishment in the region, particularly Bassem Youssef, a man who risked his life to make Egyptians laugh amidst a wave of political unrest. The film captures the human struggles and resilience that were a hallmark of the Arab Spring - particularly in Egypt - against the backdrop of authoritarian states and repressive policies.

The director, Sara Taksler, does an excellent job in presenting the struggles and the hurdles that Bassem encountered — both on personal and professional levels. She reveals a different side of Egypt and presents a character-driven documentary that allows viewers to appreciate the tremendous risks some people take to fight against tyranny and authoritarianism while employing humor as a weapon.

Underneath the colorful and light-hearted moments is an intense and profound human drama. Taksler presents this reality effectively, creating a poignant portrait of Bassem's rise as a celebrity, and the price he had to pay. The director effectively captures the heart-breaking moments depicting Bassem's forced exile from his own country and the breakdown of his family in the process.

Overall, Tickling Giants is a fascinating and inspiring documentary. It not only showcases the power of humor and satire as an important tool for democracy, but also the struggles that storytellers face in countries where free speech is not supported. The movie powerfully demonstrates that storytelling can motivate action and empower individuals and communities to shape their own destinies.

Tickling Giants is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.2 and a MetaScore of 78.