Set against the momentous backdrop of the whirlwind Tahrir Square protests, Winter of Discontent explores the anguish of a victim of state terror in 2009 intertwined with the pivotal events in 2011 that altered the course of Egyptian history. As the stories of the characters unfold, the viewer is propelled headlong into the heady, almost-surreal atmosphere of terror and uncertainty that characterized the last days of Mubarak's rule.

The film portrays Egyptian state security as a tool of oppression during the monumental period of state unrest and uprising that occurred with the revolution of 2011. The film includes intense scenes of torture and abuse, detainment of protesters, and debates between those committing these horrible acts, showing how President Hosni Mubarak used all available means to hold onto power in the waning days of his rule.