Our government stinks. A disconcerting number of our politicians are corrupt, scheming scoundrels obsessed with growing their own bank accounts and stock portfolios and totally unconcerned with the welfare of the common folk! Wait, that's not right; let me try again. A disturbing amount of our politicians are nefarious socialists hell-bent on taking money from hard-working Americans and giving it to the lazy layabouts! Still no good? OK, one more try. ... Every president was or is part of a secret Illuminati cabal that has directed the course of history from behind the scenes since our nation's inception. (Said cabal may or may not involve reptilian space aliens masquerading as humans, depending on which website you go to.)

Whatever your opinion of our government is, we have a pretty good deal going here. For one thing, I'm free to openly level criticism at them because they defend my right to do it! I don't have to worry that the Secret Police are going to make me disappear when this goes online. You don't have to worry about this website getting you trundled off to a reeducation camp for "following seditious materials." And really, that's just the first item on a very long list of reasons we have it pretty swell.

Other countries aren't so lucky.

The Square is the latest from Egyptian director Jehane Noujaim. This in-your-face documentary chronicles the Egyptian Revolution that began in 2011 - and continues to this day - through the eyes of the people who know it best: the revolutionaries themselves.

 Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was the biggest proponent of democracy since Emperor Palpatine. He clung to his presidency by invoking martial law for 30 years. It was only after weeks of escalating protests and demonstrations that Mubarak voluntarily stepped down, perhaps rightfully fearing following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Anwar Sadat. This left Egypt in the care of the not-at-all-ominous-sounding Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, a.k.a. the Egyptian military that helped kept Mubarak in power and shared his love for martial law. Naturally, more protesting and demonstrating followed, until a new president, Mohamed Morsi, took office. Surely, he'd be the benevolent, democratic leader that Egypt needed and deserved, right?

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. Right down to the resignation and the military taking over. Again.

In the midst of this unending social upheaval, we meet the victims: the wealthy, the poor, Muslims, Christians, secularists, conformists, reformists; people from all walks of life putting aside their petty differences - a luxury they can no longer afford - in order to actually fight for the rights and liberties that we enjoy freely. All of them have stories, and most are heartbreaking, but the film isn't devoid of all hope.

The Square reminds audiences that although tyrants will continue to seize power from time to time, there will always be decent people willing to put their comparatively minor squabbles aside and unite to topple those tyrants from their thrones again and again.

And again.

THE SQUARE, 2 and 6;45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett, Tacoma, $4.50-$9, 253.593.4474