Mosul

In 2014, ISIS takes over Mosul with little opposition. It's over two years later. Disparate forces join together to take on ISIS despite their sectarian conflict. Iraqi journalist Ali Maula is embedded with a militia. He interviews captured ISIS recruiter Nasser Issa, Um Hanadi (only female commander of a militia), Captain Alaa Atah, and Sunni Sheikh "The Crocodile" Saleh.

It' s a documentary. It's fine. There are some talking heads. They are interesting players in the conflict. In the end, I'm more interested in the fight. There is a small section in the end with some war action. It's a slice of the epic events in Iraq. It's not the whole thing. This is a companion piece.

Mosul film takes you inside the city's battle for liberation from the perspective of an Iraqi journalist, in a way that's very intimate and engaging. You'll be wanting to stay longer with each of the featured characters, listening to their life stories, their sorrows, their misfortune, and their victories. You'll be in the midst of street battles (real footage) that'll have you on the edge of your seat, fearing for the lives of the character friends you just met. But most importantly, it shows the very recent history of a city ravaged by the terrorists' hate and the sectarian clashes that are still sadly alive to this day. It raises the question of tomorrow, a question the city of Mosul has yet to answer.

The stories the people tell are detailed and paint a terrible picture of the Hell they are forced to live in and the hate towards ISIS and hope they feel when the military comes through. However, Ali Maula takes an interesting angle in questioning whether or not many of the civilians re telling the truth. It is a sad thing to think but does show how much distrust and discord ISIS has sown into the country. The use of actual footage of the cruelty and violence make for a shocking and utterly disturbing watch. Gabriel doesn't pull any punches and though that does make the film hard to watch, it is not for the faint of heart, he does manage to make his point more poignant and memorable. The runtime is short clocking in well under ninety minutes - however this works in the film's favor. Not only does it still manage to perfectly fit in every story and bit of information, but the quick pace gives the film a sense of urgency and energy which makes the viewing direr and memorable.

I won't talking about the technical issues cause My problem with the contain which first of is that more than two-thirds of the film was focused on footage or operations, which is easy to call that it was acting , whether it was Hanadi or Captain Alaa, while in the real battle in the last part of the film was not taken Seriously, in addition to the lack of focus on the issue of refugees and most of the meetings were with people who did not convey the true picture of what was happening inside Mosul. Also I want to see more footage inside Mosul after liberation operation.

This is a searing portrait of some of the people behind the liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State. Particularly memorable is Um Hanadi the female leader of an all-male militia, who wishes to fight to honor her dead relatives. We see communities engulfed in thick, black smoke, and we see children who live in squalor and desperation. It isn't easy to watch, but the world needs to see it.