Syria and the Arab spring

Beginning of 2011, a new wind is blowing through the Arab countries, the "Arab Spring" is taking place: a movement of the people against the injustice they have suffered for too long.

After Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya, on March the 15th, Syria is the next country to feel this wind blow.

The unrest began in the southern city of Deraa in March when locals gathered to demand the release of 14 school children who were arrested and reportedly tortured after writing on a wall the well-known slogan of the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt: "The people want the downfall of the regime."

The movement then expanded to most parts of Syria, whatever religious and cultural backgrounds they have. While fear prevent some people to speak, those who dare to go out and demonstrate do it peacefully to call for democracy and greater freedom and even to ask for President Assad’s resignation.

The government response has been from the beginning of overwhelming violence: thousands of deaths not counting arbitrary arrests and missing persons.

You don’t fit for freedom

As European people who are told from the beginning of the crisis that "they do not fit for the job," in Arab countries, current governments want their people to believe that they are not made for freedom.

We want to rise against this idea because we do believe in the right of people to self-determination and this is why we want through this short film to raise awareness about what is happening in Syria.

We want to support the Syrian people who find themselves alone in their struggle for freedom.

We want to send a strong message to Bashar Al Assad, asking him to leave and asking for a trial to judge his actions.

We want to make people aware of the crimes against humanity taking place right now and want to educate, awaken the crowds and get out as soon as possible Syria of the widespread indifference.

Delivering a message through art

The short film "you do not fit for freedom" is a creation depicting the Syrian revolution from its beginning to today.

The history shows the evolution of this revolution with on the one hand the hope of the people and their undeniable courage, and on the other hand the keep-going aggressiveness of the repression.

To help our message be universal, we built this creation on non-verbal communication elements.

Dance carries the message of freedom through the play of actors and fluid, non-regulated movements, free from coercion.

The music accompanies the movement: contemporary and electronic, it expresses the tensions, the fear but also the hope to see freedom triumphing.

The editing is based on cuts showing strong universal symbols and multiple locations that all have a specific meaning

• the olive tree, symbol of peace
• the Tunis Municipal Theatre, main starting point of demonstrations during the revolution in Tunisia
• the lotus temple in India, open to all faiths regardless of their religious character
• the Wall for Peace in Paris
• the mobile held by a child, referring to amateur videos filmed with these phones and sent to the media to show the world what is happing; important mean given the lack of objective media,
• the graphic designer writing on a wall in Romania the most used word during the Arab revolutions "freedom",
• the wise monkeys, that embody the principle to “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” referring to the international community that “respects” the non-interference principle.
  
  Finally, the use of masks is crucial. It puts the focus on the message rather than on a particular person allowing the viewer to understand the geopolitical issues in this conflict :
  
• The mask which is wearing the flag of the independent Syria represents the desire for freedom, shared by most of the people,
• the black mask represents the risk to show one’s political commitment and the fear of retaliation,
• The masks « countries » of Iran and Russia do not represent the people of these countries but their geopolitical interests:
• For Iran, Bachar is a strategic ally and a natural extension of its policies in the region.
• For Russia, Syria is a key military base and an opening on the Mediterranean sea.
• Only one person is not hidden: this person gives a face to the quest of freedom, the humanity present in us, symbolizing the courage of people and their strong desire to get what they are fighting so hard for.
  
  Through all of this short film, we wanted to understand what lies behind the multiple geopolitical interests and to reflect the reality experienced by men, women and children who against the barbarism do not express anything: no joy, no fear, no sadness or anger ... nothing has value anymore, except the freedom for which they are fighting every day.

Thanks

From writing and producing to broadcasting this short film, 3 months have passed.

Big thank you to everyone who make it happen: the 9 artists and technicians and the 42 participants.

Everyone’s contribution was crucial because it is « small streams that make the great rivers ».

Thank you.

Contact

youdontfitforfreedom@gmail.com