Tickling Giants
The first political satire show in Egypt
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 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.
Director
Sara Taksler
Producer
Maziar Bahari, Monica Hampton, Frederic Rose, and Sara Taksler
Runtime
111 Minutes
Rights Represented
International Rights
Captions Available
English
Language
English
Press
“Sara Taksler’s exuberant and tragic documentary about the rise and fall and escape into exile of that country’s leading satirist…an essential document on the role of media”
- Screen Daily
“Brilliant…Tickling Giants plays more like a gripping political-comedy-drama than a straightforward documentary”
- Okay Africa
“Engaging…Youssef is so much more than an Egyptian Jon Stewart”
- Vice
“A political thriller”
- The Playlist
Festival & Awards
Official Selection – TRIBECA Film Festival