Para Sama

There a moment in this film a baby which will probably make you feel more strongly than any other movie in the history of the films you've seen.

A bracing first-hand account of the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Syria, For Sama is a love letter from a mother to her daughter, an elegy of what it means to have a homeland, and a document of immediate relevance & urgency that brings to light the brutal atrocities committed by the Syrian government against its own citizens.

Capturing the female experience of war through Waad Al-Kateab's camera lens, For Sama chronicles her life in Aleppo over the course of 5 years, from the early uprising against the regime to the violent retaliation that completely destroyed their city. Juxtaposed with the horrors of war is Waad's own intimate journey to motherhood.

Jam-packed with authentic footage of human right violations, there are moments in this documentary that are graphic, harrowing & emotionally devastating but all of these grisly images add considerable weight to their predicament situation and the horrors they were subjected to on a daily basis, with constant shelling serving as a reminder that death lurks nearby.

A resounding portrait of relentless determination in the face of persistent danger, For Sama presents a citizen journalist going above & beyond the call of duty to provide the world a direct access into the cataclysmic conflict that left thousands dead & millions homeless, and highlights the fact that being a refugee is nobody's first choice. A powerful, gripping & haunting piece of indispensable info, For Sama is essential viewing.

Okay first a moan - somehow at the time of writing some eight people have scored this 3 or less - while we are entitled to out own views and tastes it is pretty staggering that anyone couldn't see the brilliance and humanity of this most human of documentaries. I challenge anyone not to watch this film and be deeply moved - oh and if you aren't my guess is you need to check your empathy and compassion out! This is possibly the most searingly human film I have ever witnessed and I do not say that lightly. It should be obligatory watching for our schools however horrific it is as it teaches more about the world, humanity, suffering, resilience, hope and life than a thousand lessons. It would also help to get a society that sees their own lives and the lives of others in a much more balanced and open way. There are moments in this film that are among the hardest I have ever witnessed, it moved my partner to tears and left me struggling to watch BUT ultimately it is nothing short of magnificent. Right now in my head not just one of the best documentaries ever but one of the best films. Thank you to all involved in this, particularly the wonderful Waad Al-Khateab, but also her friends, family and all of the Syrians who suffered while shamefully the world looked the other way.

You will never see a film like this in your life. Joy, laughter, fear, Suspence, Thriller, Drama, Family, Horror - it is a documentary that tells a story using fictional devices by way of voiceover, narration, a novel approach to a heart-thumping action filled documentary. Waad is an brave filmmaker in her own right and courage is the only virtue a filmmaker needs.

All I a left to say is, You will never see a film like this in your life. This film is destined for the BIG WINS this year.

For Sama received a standing ovation at its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It also received the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Feature. It is a remarkable film. Each of us tries to go through his/her daily life and pretend there is no place in the world where human beings are being routinely slaughtered as occurred in Aleppo. Waad Al-Khateab is a hero. She and her husband - a doctor - stayed in Aleppo through the worst of the siege. He saved lives and she documented the horrors for the world to see. For Sama presents some of the most unflinching war coverage that I have seen. The beauty of the film is that she presents it as almost a love letter to her infant daughter Sama who was born in Aleppo in the months leading up to the siege. She is trying to tell her story and the story of her city (one of the oldest continuously populated cities on the planet). The contrast between the horror of parents try to care and protect an infant while simultaneously trying to save lives and document the horror is breathtaking and heart-wrenching. It is as if you set a love story amidst the flames of hell. This is a story that needs to be widely viewed and it will be since it has been picked up by PBS and will air on Frontline in the coming months. Everyone who loves children and hates war (and I really hope that is everyone) should see this film.