Still Recording
Few other films get across the reality of war like this impressive eye witness report of the first years of the Syrian Civil War.
Cinéma Arabe
In 2011 students Saeed and Milad travel to Douma to join the resistance. They start a radio station and lead a small camera crew. Their topic is not the battle itself, but rather how it impacts the daily lives of normal Syrians. One person takes up his gun, another creates art, a third attempts to continue his sport routine in the destroyed city.
A magnificent montage based on 450 hours of footage guides the viewer through all stages of the chaotic conflict and the emotions that come with it: euphoria, doubt, desperation, obstinacy. Because whatever happens, the camera is still rolling.
Saeed Al Batal & Ghiath Ayoub, Lebanon, Syria, France, Qatar, Germany, 2018, 120 min. Arabic & English spoken, English subtitles.