As I Want

The 25th of January 2013 was the second anniversary of the Egyptian riots which led to the removal of Hosni Mubarak, the country’s president through 30 years, from his position of power. On the occasion of the anniversary, thousands of people take to the streets once more, and these demonstrations were marred by extensive sexual assaults, harrassment, and violence towards women. Best friend of director Samaher Alqadi was one of the women affected by this.

Alqadi, originally from Palestine, uses her camera to shine a light on the evens of that fateful day. With the help of arcive footage and heartbreaking testimonies, she examines what it means to be a woman in the Middle East today. As I Want is a personal essay documentary in which Alqedi also discusses her own role as a mother and a daugter, in the light of the patriarchal structures which surround her. The camera never feels passive, whether Alqadi is demonstrating the fighting spirit of the Egyptian women, or entering into direct confrontation with men on the streets. The result is a highly engaging and powerful documentary.

As I want is presented in collaboration with HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival 2022 (28.feb - 6. March).

Atli Bjarnason

This film is part of