2019·Documentary·1h 40m
7.4
★
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.
Directed by Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts
found footage
woman director
syria
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Sama Al-Khateab
Self
Hamza Al-Khateab
Self
Waad al-Kateab
Self
Crew
Waad al-Kateab
Director
Edward Watts
Director
Nainita Desai
Original Music Composer
Simon McMahon
Editor
Waad al-Kateab
Director of Photography
Ben de Pear
Executive Producer
Waad al-Kateab
Producer
Popular Reviews
109 reviews
Space_Cowboy909
10.0★ · 04/24/26
I hate this.
I hate this.
Nioui
9.0★ · 03/27/26
watching the most popular movie from every country - 13/199 (Syrie)
c'est meme pas correct de mettre une note à ce genre de documentaires mais cest tellement déchirant et fort à la fois
j'ai absolument tout le respect du monde pour les révolutionnaires syriens, j'espère que Waad est fière que leur drapeau soit affiché dans tout le pays maintenant
c'est meme pas correct de mettre une note à ce genre de documentaires mais cest tellement déchirant et fort à la fois
j'ai absolument tout le respect du monde pour les révolutionnaires syriens, j'espère que Waad est fière que leur drapeau soit affiché dans tout le pays maintenant
watching the most popular movie from every country - 13/199 (Syrie)
c'est meme pas correct de mettre une note à ce genre de documentaires mais cest tellement déchirant et fort à la fois
j'ai absolument tout le respect du monde pour les révolutionnaires syriens, j'espère que Waad est fière que leur drapeau soit affiché dans tout le pays maintenant
c'est meme pas correct de mettre une note à ce genre de documentaires mais cest tellement déchirant et fort à la fois
j'ai absolument tout le respect du monde pour les révolutionnaires syriens, j'espère que Waad est fière que leur drapeau soit affiché dans tout le pays maintenant
Mahmoud
10.0★ · 02/25/26
The audacity and braveness it took to make this, is insane.
The audacity and braveness it took to make this, is insane.
Emma
10.0★ · 01/16/26
children have nothing to do with this. nothing.
this documentary was a painful but necessary view into the experience of those living in east aleppo and it was such an important watch. heartbreaking but eye opening and I would recommend this to just about anybody
this documentary was a painful but necessary view into the experience of those living in east aleppo and it was such an important watch. heartbreaking but eye opening and I would recommend this to just about anybody
children have nothing to do with this. nothing.
this documentary was a painful but necessary view into the experience of those living in east aleppo and it was such an important watch. heartbreaking but eye opening and I would recommend this to just about anybody
this documentary was a painful but necessary view into the experience of those living in east aleppo and it was such an important watch. heartbreaking but eye opening and I would recommend this to just about anybody
Tom Brice
10.0★ · 11/24/25
For Sama (2019) is an award winning documentary looking at the Syrian revolution against the regime (2011-2024). It was directed by journalist Waad Al-Kateab who shot raw unadulterated footage of the conflict (2012-2016) as it unfolded while her husband cared for the wounded. Waad gave birth to her Daughter Sama during the revolution, and decided to construct a film and narrative over the footage to explain the chooses they made to fight injustice and keep her safe. Consequently, the narration is directed to her not to us, and the result is a deeply powerful and personal view of her love as a mother:
‘You’re the most beautiful thing in our lives, but what a life I’ve brought you into. Will you ever forgive me?’.
Waad’s raw unadulterated footage of the conflict is absolutely brilliant. She took the decision to film everything and not omit any details no matter how bad, and this gives a really authentic and shocking insight of what life was like in Aleppo. In one scene, she even shows a near miscarriage live on film. It is cut or hidden and there is nowhere for the audience to hide. Despite the rawness, the cinematography is excellent. Waad moves the camera through hospital cooriders and doorways with precision and poignancy, almost guiding us through to other worlds. Parallels to even be made to Shoah (1985), going deeper into buildings and the darkness they hold.
As a documentary, For Sama manages to be educational, emotional poignant, and unapologetically dark. The narration provides pace and structure, and the gentle violin soundtrack keeps constant tension. Nothing is withheld, and we get full access to life in Aleppo and the mind of Waad as she grapples with decisions she took to protect her daughter. This is an authentic film which is beautiful and crushing in equal measure, and deserves all the praise it has received. 5/5
‘You’re the most beautiful thing in our lives, but what a life I’ve brought you into. Will you ever forgive me?’.
Waad’s raw unadulterated footage of the conflict is absolutely brilliant. She took the decision to film everything and not omit any details no matter how bad, and this gives a really authentic and shocking insight of what life was like in Aleppo. In one scene, she even shows a near miscarriage live on film. It is cut or hidden and there is nowhere for the audience to hide. Despite the rawness, the cinematography is excellent. Waad moves the camera through hospital cooriders and doorways with precision and poignancy, almost guiding us through to other worlds. Parallels to even be made to Shoah (1985), going deeper into buildings and the darkness they hold.
As a documentary, For Sama manages to be educational, emotional poignant, and unapologetically dark. The narration provides pace and structure, and the gentle violin soundtrack keeps constant tension. Nothing is withheld, and we get full access to life in Aleppo and the mind of Waad as she grapples with decisions she took to protect her daughter. This is an authentic film which is beautiful and crushing in equal measure, and deserves all the praise it has received. 5/5
For Sama (2019) is an award winning documentary looking at the Syrian revolution against the regime (2011-2024). It was directed by journalist Waad Al-Kateab who shot raw unadulterated footage of the conflict (2012-2016) as it unfolded while her husband cared for the wounded. Waad gave birth to her Daughter Sama during the revolution, and decided to construct a film and narrative over the footage to explain the chooses they made to fight injustice and keep her safe. Consequently, the narration is directed to her not to us, and the result is a deeply powerful and personal view of her love as a mother:
‘You’re the most beautiful thing in our lives, but what a life I’ve brought you into. Will you ever forgive me?’.
Waad’s raw unadulterated footage of the conflict is absolutely brilliant. She took the decision to film everything and not omit any details no matter how bad, and this gives a really authentic and shocking insight of what life was like in Aleppo. In one scene, she even shows a near miscarriage live on film. It is cut or hidden and there is nowhere for the audience to hide. Despite the rawness, the cinematography is excellent. Waad moves the camera through hospital cooriders and doorways with precision and poignancy, almost guiding us through to other worlds. Parallels to even be made to Shoah (1985), going deeper into buildings and the darkness they hold.
As a documentary, For Sama manages to be educational, emotional poignant, and unapologetically dark. The narration provides pace and structure, and the gentle violin soundtrack keeps constant tension. Nothing is withheld, and we get full access to life in Aleppo and the mind of Waad as she grapples with decisions she took to protect her daughter. This is an authentic film which is beautiful and crushing in equal measure, and deserves all the praise it has received. 5/5
‘You’re the most beautiful thing in our lives, but what a life I’ve brought you into. Will you ever forgive me?’.
Waad’s raw unadulterated footage of the conflict is absolutely brilliant. She took the decision to film everything and not omit any details no matter how bad, and this gives a really authentic and shocking insight of what life was like in Aleppo. In one scene, she even shows a near miscarriage live on film. It is cut or hidden and there is nowhere for the audience to hide. Despite the rawness, the cinematography is excellent. Waad moves the camera through hospital cooriders and doorways with precision and poignancy, almost guiding us through to other worlds. Parallels to even be made to Shoah (1985), going deeper into buildings and the darkness they hold.
As a documentary, For Sama manages to be educational, emotional poignant, and unapologetically dark. The narration provides pace and structure, and the gentle violin soundtrack keeps constant tension. Nothing is withheld, and we get full access to life in Aleppo and the mind of Waad as she grapples with decisions she took to protect her daughter. This is an authentic film which is beautiful and crushing in equal measure, and deserves all the praise it has received. 5/5