Sœurs d'armes

Overall a worthwhile film. Yet half of their story (unless you're multilingual) is lost; the CC does not translate the foreign language, and this is an issue with many other films.

How are we supposed to understand the deeper message, the cultural differences, when there is no translation? Again, this is pervasive in many good foreign films, this is only one example.

So having watched this, and appreciating their struggle, we only get half of the story. I find this reprehensible; when will directors and producers finally wake up and give the rest of us the whole picture?

For this reason, I only give it seven stars, and that rating is more then generous.

Syria, mid-2010s. The radical jihadist group Islamic State / ISIS is gaining ground, arbitrarily murdering anyone who gets in their way and kidnapping women. Over time the people of the area start to fight back. One such unit is a group of women, who, due to the atrocities committed against women and against their families and friends by ISIS, are personally invested in the fight.

An interesting story and one that needed to be told. The fact that it is a group of women makes for particularly powerful story as the barbaric customs of ISIS saw them treating women as less than human. The women are thus fighting for more than just their homeland but for their right to exist and be treated equally. It also makes the stakes very high for the women in the unit as capture would mean a fate worse than death.

While the film has great ideals and a good central story, unfortunately the execution is quite clumsy. There's heaps of sub-plots and scenes that add nothing to proceedings. The plot is filled with trite, predictable, cheesy developments and gung ho characterisations. Some originality and grittiness would have gone a long way.

Overall, not terrible but could have been a whole lot better.

It shows how these courageous Kurdish girls alongside of their American and European allies fought the nightmare of ISIS

Nothing is more certain than death, taxes -- and betrayal of the Kurds. So it is really shocking when a reviewer here blames Trump, when in fact Obama, Bush, Clinton all deeply betrayed the Kurds. In fact both the US and the Europeans have been doing so for a century or more. There was then VP Bidens shameful August 2016 press conference in Ankara, directly threatening the Kurds and towing Ankara's line. There was also Obama's "red line" on use of chemical weapons' which did nothing about when the red line was blatantly crossed -- several times. In fact there was a piece in the NYT noting Kurds who had earlier named their newborns "Obama" where changing their kid's names in disgust at the Obama administration! so anyone blaming just one US President or administration is frankly a deranged partisan! There is no president in our lifetimes that has not betrayed the Kurds.

OK, on to this film: Yes it is a bit melodramatic, and has a run on of low credibility scenes from a military perspective. A military advisor, even in guerilla/insurgent tactics would have been helpful -- if thing other than to have the actresses hold weapons' correctly. But that said it is essentially a true story of bravery, courage and sacrifice in the face of powerful, genocidal, particularly misogynist enemies.

Well done!

"Soeurs d'armes" (Sisters in Arms) delivers a captivating story with a 7/10 rating from me, and I found it quite likable. The acting, particularly the chemistry between the two lead characters, is a standout, bringing depth and authenticity to their complex relationship in the midst of wartime chaos. The film editing keeps the narrative engaging, while its strength lies in shedding light on the often-overlooked perspective of female fighters in conflict zones. However, a minor weakness might be occasional pacing issues. The music subtly underscores the emotional undertones of the film, and the cinematography captures both the brutality and camaraderie of the battlefield. "Soeurs d'armes" is a poignant exploration of the bonds forged in the crucible of war, reminding us of the strength and resilience of women who stand together against all odds.