Karim Fanous

The Square looks at the hard realities faced day-to-day by people working to build Egypt’s new democracy. Cairo’s Tahrir Square is the heart and soul of the film, which follows several young activists. Armed with values, determination, music, humor, an abundance of social media, and sheer obstinacy, they know that the thorny path to democracy only began with Hosni Mubarak’s fall. The life-and-death struggle between the people and the power of the state is still playing out.

The events revolve around Hadi, who works as a washroom attendant at a disco in a hotel in Cairo, and he sees his life slipping away from his hands. On an unexpected visit to a cabaret, he finds himself in love with the dancer Nour.

A middle-aged New York cab driver from Egypt picks up a fellow Egyptian, arriving in the city for the first time, in pursuit of the "American Dream". They share a conversation that will help each of them come to a realization about their life choices.