STRONGER THAN BULLETS

In America we sometimes take for granted the simple freedoms we enjoy. Sure, we may disagree on issues. But for people living in Libya, the struggle for basic rights has been an ongoing battle. When the dictator Muammar Gaddafi took over the country in 1969, he burned all the Western musical instruments he could find. For 42 years musicians were silenced. Things finally changed in 2011 during the revolutionary Arab Spring. A number of artists came out of the shadows, leading to an explosion of musical expression. These brave musicians stood on the frontline, using their music to motivate the soldiers as they fought for freedom. When Gaddafi was finally ousted, they celebrated with public concerts, which were previously outlawed. The sounds emanating from Libya were extremely diverse, from punk rock and folk to hip-hop and heavy metal. Unfortunately, their newfound liberation will be challenged when shadowy elements begin to clash over power. Will they be silenced once again? See Libya’s powerful fight for musical freedom in the stirring documentary STRONGER THAN BULLETS. (In English and Arabic with subtitles) —E.F.