In the opening minutes of this film we are seeing a woman's point of view in a building we soon realise is under attack. She gives her baby daughter to another woman who runs downstairs. As she is filming the corridor, up ahead there is an explosion and debris and smoke burst out from one of the doorways. The effect is clear - the audience immediately understands that this film is going to be a huge dose of frightening reality. A civil war seen from the inside.
Journalist Waad Al-Khateab lived in the heart of rebel territory during the siege of Aleppo with her doctor husband Hamza. Whilst he and his colleagues treated hundreds of injured civilians in a makeshift hospital she worked hard to document everything that they and their friends experienced whilst also bringing up her baby daughter, Sama, to whom the film is lovingly addressed.
The result is a searingly powerful collection of extraordinary footage, which captures both the horror and brutality of the violence visited on civilians as well as the humanity and genuine heroism of those who chose to stay and treat the wounded. The footage is unflinching and shocking in many places, and the audience is party to scenes of gut-wrenching grief. But we are also shown shining glimpses of humanity, of survival, camaraderie, love, and even humour at times.
But what makes For Sama really special is the intimate portrayal of a mother's love in the most terrifying of circumstances. Everything is filmed - we get to see Waad's immediate reaction as she holds the newborn Sama for the first time, and suddenly begins to weep for all those people they lost up until this point. It's a stunningly affecting thing to watch a documentary maker bare herself emotionally in this way.
And there are so many moments like that, of extraordinary emotional rawness, throughout this film that make it a must-see. It is a tough and harrowing watch but it is more than worth it for the unique and intimate perspective it provides.
Journalist Waad Al-Khateab lived in the heart of rebel territory during the siege of Aleppo with her doctor husband Hamza. Whilst he and his colleagues treated hundreds of injured civilians in a makeshift hospital she worked hard to document everything that they and their friends experienced whilst also bringing up her baby daughter, Sama, to whom the film is lovingly addressed.
The result is a searingly powerful collection of extraordinary footage, which captures both the horror and brutality of the violence visited on civilians as well as the humanity and genuine heroism of those who chose to stay and treat the wounded. The footage is unflinching and shocking in many places, and the audience is party to scenes of gut-wrenching grief. But we are also shown shining glimpses of humanity, of survival, camaraderie, love, and even humour at times.
But what makes For Sama really special is the intimate portrayal of a mother's love in the most terrifying of circumstances. Everything is filmed - we get to see Waad's immediate reaction as she holds the newborn Sama for the first time, and suddenly begins to weep for all those people they lost up until this point. It's a stunningly affecting thing to watch a documentary maker bare herself emotionally in this way.
And there are so many moments like that, of extraordinary emotional rawness, throughout this film that make it a must-see. It is a tough and harrowing watch but it is more than worth it for the unique and intimate perspective it provides.