Talel Derki
The setup to this documentary is that Derki returns to his homeland of Syria (where he was born) under the pretense of being a «war photojournalist» and is harbored by Abu Osama and his family. In reality, though, his goal is to film this subversive doc and give viewers a portrait of jihadist life in Syria.
Besides opening and closing narrations, this entire film is presented essentially «without comment». The camera never turns back to Derki or includes any sort of monologue or opinion on the matters at hand. That is completely left up to the viewer, and in this case there is much to think about.
On one hand, it is easy to see why this type of lifestyle could be considered «backwards» or misconstrued into hatred. Abu names his son Osama in honor of the 9/11 attacks, an immediate window into the Osama family outlook. One’s entire lifespan seems to be devoted to a war cause, women are nonexistent at best and heavily persecuted at worst, while the children are raised in an environment of constant bullying and physical confrontation. One gets the sense that these people are sort of «brainwashed into their cause» with no hope for peace even existing.
But then, there is the more human side of things portrayed just as stark. Despite harboring ideologies that are likely extremely different (if not usually outright offensive) to most Americans, Abu clearly loves his children and they him. After experiencing one instance of severe physical hardship, Abu comforts his children as they weep for him. His two oldest sons eventually are sent off to a military camp, and I challenge any viewer not to feel at least something as they cry themselves to sleep at night.
So often, America/Islam relations are all about «us vs. them», and often for good reason (wars have been perpetuated by both sides of that coin). What Derki shows here, though, is that it truly is only political/theological ideology that separates «us from them». Strip down the layers to the barest human selves, and you’ll find yourself caring for their plight (self-inflicted as it may be) perhaps more than you ever realized.
By zkonedog
(Extraits)
Imdb.com
