This powerful account of the war in Syria and the systematic destruction of Aleppo, is told from the first-person perspective of journalist Waad al-Kateab, providing a rare account of the female experience of war. Taking the form of a love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, following her as she falls in love, gets married, and gives birth to Sama, all against a backdrop of virtually unimaginable conflict and violence. This Oscar-nominated documentary provides a clear view of events as they unfold, with the film’s profound humanity giving it universal resonance.
Al Jazeera Balkans Doc FF – Best Film
BiograFF – Best Unipol Award, Audience Award
Calgary Int'l FF – Audience Award
Dinard FF – Hitchcock Heartbeat
Durban Int'l FF (2019) – Best Documentary, Human Rights Award
European Film Awards – Best European Documentary
Festival de Cannes – The Golden Eye, The Documentary Prize
FF München – Audience Award
Galway Film Fleadh Awards – Best Human Rights Feature Award
Guaranajuato Int'l FF – Best International Documentary
Heartland Int'l FF – Best Documentary, Social Impact
Hot Docs (2019) – Special Jury
Lighthouse Int'l FF – Documentary Feature Audience Awards
Los Angeles Asian Pacific FF – Grand Jury
Minneapolis St Paul Int'l FF – World Cinema Award
Mountain Film (2019) – Norman Vaughan Indomitable Spirit Award
Nantucket FF (2019) – Audience Awards
Newport Beach FF – Best Documentary, Human Rights Award
Riverrun Int'l FF – Best Cinematography
Sheffield Doc/Fest – Audience Award
SXSW FF (2019) – Special Jury Prize, Audience Award
Traverse City FF – Grand Jury
Availability &
Screening Time:
Director(s):
Waad al-Kateab & Edward Watts
Country:
Syria | UK
Year:
2019
Running Time:
96 min
Language(s):
Arabic
Our live, online Q&A with the Director took place on Sun 23 Aug @ 5.35pm. You can find the recording of it on our YouTube channel.
