Overview
“For Sama” is a documentary that portrays the realities of the Syrian Civil War, its effects on people, and the struggles that a family goes through while trying to help their community and stay strong in such a horrible situation. Waab Al-Kateab, one of the directors and the producer of the film, is a journalist who had been documenting her life in Aleppo for a total of five years. The husband, Hamza Al-Kateab, was one of the few doctors who remained in the region even after the massive destruction of hospitals and medical facilities. The movie is a legacy left for Sama Al-Kataeb, the daughter born during the Syrian Civil War and the path to globalization. Its premise is to keep the memories of those atrocities alive in the hope for a bright future.
The Syrian Civil War is a product of inequality and globalization. While the general population felt oppressed by the authoritarian regime, the prospect of globalization seemed impossible due to the cultural specifics and the events that Syria is most known for. However, the notion of globalization is not one of the values that the protagonists were fighting for. Inequality, oppression, and lack of freedom are the aspects of the Syrian regime they were trying to abolish and feature in the documentary.
What were the most important things I have learned from this experience?
This movie is the most realistic depiction of the Syrian war. Reading news articles and watching TV reports do not portray the raw and authentic atmosphere of fear, gloom, and darkness. The most important thing that I have learned is that even in the worst moments of inequality when humanity seems doomed, and everything appears to be affected by evil, strong moral values and eagerness for a better future can have a significant impact. The Al-Kateab family took a horrible situation and managed to look at it from a different perspective by bringing a new life to the earth, helping their community combat inequality and destruction, and shining light on the horrible events they have directly witnessed.
What impacted me most from this film?
Watching the movie has been an impactful experience for me. Many aspects left a strong aftertaste, such as the moment when two brothers brought the lifeless body of their sibling to the doctor or the mother who was screaming after losing her child (For Sama). While the atrocities of war are very touching, the things that had the most substantial impacts were all the positive moments. The Al-Kateab family managed to preserve a glimmer of hope for equality and prosperity, which they manifested by having a wedding and giving birth to a daughter despite everything that was going on. Seeing something beautiful flourish despite all the destruction and death is the most unforgettable symbol of hope and freedom, which is why this aspect had the most significant impact on me.
The other impactful lesson I have learned from this documentary is the value of individuality. While it is not a topic that is specifically touched upon in the movie, it shines through during the entire film. A young 18-year-old woman decides to stay in her country and fight for her rights. Waab Al-Kateab has spent all her life under an oppressive regime, and the small hope that everything can change for the better was enough to give her strength and will to remain an active member of society who values freedom and equality.
How did this change my views or perspective?
The notion of war is always associated with the unimportance of human life, the evil that brings the worse out of people, and the darkness that seems to be never-ending. This movie, however, is about something else. I used to think that only great power can overcome great evil. After watching the documentary, I realized that individuals with the correct values and intentions could significantly impact the course of a historical event. This overpowers the concept of globalization and portraits the vital influence a single person can have on something so powerful as war.
The Al-Kateab family consists of two strong-minded people who are determined to make a difference. They have achieved this goal by helping people from their community, showing the world the realities of war and inequality, and creating a foundation of strong moral values for future generations by leaving a legacy for their daughter. She will not remember her early childhood but will learn about it through the movie.
Conclusion
While globalization and inequality are the key factors that caused the Syrian conflict to grow and expand, the movie also touches upon much more subjective topics such as family, individuality, and the portrayal of a woman in a nation-wise war. Its beauty and uniqueness lays in the notion that being morally strong, valuing freedom and equality, and fighting for a better future that the next generations will appreciate and cherish. Waab Al-Kateab provided the viewers with a realistic experience of war from her perspective. This gave the movie an additional layer of genuine and truthful atmosphere from the point of view of a woman who has witnessed her nation strive for equality during the countries journey towards globalization.
Work Cited
Al-Kateab, Waad and Edward Watts, directors. For Sama. PBS Distribution, 2019.