For Sama

An unflinching, intimate plunge into war-torn daily life that is harrowing yet tender, leaving you shaken and deeply moved.

Directed by

Edward Watts, Waad al-Kateab

Genres

Documentary, War

Starring

Sama Al-Khateab, Hamza Al-Khateab, Waad al-Kateab

Tagline

An intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war.

Overview

A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice– whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter’s life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much.

How it feels

Bleak, tense, warm and earnest. Measured and demanding.

About

War, survival, family, grief

Content

Strong violence and gore. Mild language. No sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)