Winner of the best documentary prize at the 2019 Festival_Cannes, 'For Sama' captures the raw, personal experience of the war in Syria in the form of a love letter from a young mother to her newborn daughter. Join us on July 21 IFCCenter ▶️ 51Fest
is a personal, epic journey into a woman’s experience of war. It tells the story of Waad al-Kateab’s life, love, family and work through five years of violent uprising in Syria. As a journalist who has been active in the struggle against the regime, al-Kateab is faced with the heart-wrenching choice of leaving the rebel-held city of Aleppo to protect her baby or staying to continue to fight for freedom.
The documentary matter-of-factly presents the toll that the harsh realities and chaos of war take on the day-to-day lives of ordinary men, women and children. Intense sequences vividly capture the determination and heartbreak of resistance fighters and medical professionals, including al-Kateab’s husband, Hamza. Brave and bold storytelling choices and first hand access make this a war doc like you’ve never seen before, up close and through a female lens.