I am the Giant documentary; the back story of civil war in Syria & Libya

We Are the Giant,” a dramatic account of people active in the movements sparked by the Arab Spring. Looking at two people each in Libya, Syria and Bahrain, the film doesn’t try to explain the political background or complexities of these societies but instead offers haunting, up-close portraits of individuals who elect to put their nations’ fates above their own.

The film commendably gives us vivid and memorable people whose personal stories strikingly illuminate their peoples’ struggles, as well as chronicling important bits of history at ground-level with enough narrative scope that we’re able to comprehend events with both more immediacy.  Be prepared to see graphic images of innocent casualties and arbitrary government responses..

Indeed, the lethal finality of those dangers is central to the first story, about Libya. We quickly learn that one of the two figures who are the focus of this account, 20-year-old Muhannad Ben-Sadik, was killed in the attempt to overthrow dictator Moammar Ghadhafi. His story is told by his colleagues and his sorrowful but insightful father, Osama Ben-Sadik.  Muhannad, the son, grew up in the U.S. but became involved in resisting Gadaffi's government after witnessing their brutal treatment of those who only wanted a voice.

Fortunately, those who rose up against that country’s ruler, Bashar al-Assad, so far have not had the success their Libyan counterparts did. In telling the Syrian revolt’s story by focusing on activists Ghassan Yassin and Motaz Murad, the film chronicles a movement that began entirely as a non-violent action, with as few as 50 demonstrators calling for reform and democracy.