Tickling Giants

Name: Tickling Giants
Genre: Documentary
Released: March 15, 2017
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 78

2017

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Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

| Release Date: March 15, 2017 | Not Rated

Summary: In the midst of the Egyptian Arab Spring, Bassem Youssef makes a decision that’s every mother’s worst nightmare… He leaves his job as a heart surgeon to become a full-time comedian. Dubbed, “The Egyptian Jon Stewart,” Bassem creates the satirical show, Al Bernameg. The weekly program quickly becomes the most viewed television program in theIn the midst of the Egyptian Arab Spring, Bassem Youssef makes a decision that’s every mother’s worst nightmare… He leaves his job as a heart surgeon to become a full-time comedian. Dubbed, “The Egyptian Jon Stewart,” Bassem creates the satirical show, Al Bernameg. The weekly program quickly becomes the most viewed television program in the Middle East, with 30 million viewers per episode. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart averaged two million viewers. In a country where free speech is not settled law, Bassem’s show becomes as controversial as it popular. He and his staff must endure physical threats, protests, and legal action, all because of jokes. As Bassem attempts to remain on the air, keep his staff safe, and not get arrested, he continues to let those in power know they’re being held accountable. Despite increasing danger, the team at Al Bernameg employ comedy, not violence, to comment on hypocrisy in media, politics, and religion. Tickling Giants follows the team of Al Bernameg as they discover democracy is not easily won. The young women and men working on Bassem’s show are fearless revolutionaries, who just happen to be really, really funny. No unicorns or falafel were harmed in the making of this film.… Expand

Director: Sara Taksler

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 111 min

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Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman

Mar 30, 2017

Tickling Giants is a terrific movie that leaves you cherishing (a little more) the freedom we have, and holding in contempt (a little more) those who would compromise it. Mostly, the movie makes you understand how every society — and ours more than ever — needs people like Bassem Youssef to demonstrate that laughter will always be one of the essential ways to keep power in check. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Apr 7, 2017

Tickling Giants surprises us on several levels. It reveals Egypt’s familiar Arab Spring experience through a lens, that of satiric comedy, which is very different from the way we usually see it. And it has the personal element of Youssef’s involving story, showing what can happen when your dreams come true to a completely unexpected extent. Read full review

David D'Arcy

Mar 15, 2017

Tickling Giants shows how a window of freedom and hope can unleash surges of creativity, like the improbable overnight success of a surgeon satirist. Read full review

Kate Stables

Apr 9, 2017

Both smart political primer and tense cautionary tale. Read full review

Leba Hertz

Mar 23, 2017

Entertaining yet somber documentary. Read full review

Jul 6, 2017

Taksler’s film is a testament to the quick slide from democracy to tyranny and a reminder to watch closely what political leaders do with the free press. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Mar 15, 2017

Tickling Giants provides a comprehensive examination of Youssef’s career highs and lows while providing a vivid personal portrait of its subject whose cheerfulness and resolve began to wither in the face of constant threats to himself and his family. Read full review

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hasanalhendi

Sep 3, 2017

this movie make me cry and happy at the same time, am a big fan of albarnamj from jordan, i was looking up for every episode for bassem yusef even if his speech and topics do not belong to me and do not touch me

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