Women in the Arab Spring: New Documentary

The new documentary is called “The Trials of Spring” and includes six parts highlighting women who made significant contributions in the countries of the Arab Spring.

For example, in Tunisa, Ghazala Mhamadi led the fight for more jobs. In Egypt, Hend Nafea protested Egypt’s military rule and was dragged through the streets and beaten, then sentenced to life in prison. She was lucky and escaped to Lebanon. And in Bahrain, Dr. Nadia Dhaif treated injured people in medical tents she set up and was sentenced to fifteen years in jail.

These and other women are the subject of this new documenatry, which premiered in Lincoln Center earlier this week. You can see the six-part documentary here at The New York Times along with a brief backgound essay on each of the Arab Spring revolutions.

The film makers are also releasing a full length documentary. Their website includes more information. And teachers can get a free copy of the DVD by filling out a form.

Below, you can see the a producer and director discuss the documentary on MSMBC this week.