For Sama
Seen it?2019 | 100 min | Documentary, War
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won 2 Emmys. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious and history buffs. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense, eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 40 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 89 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
8.2 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Documentary. Won 1 Peabody Award: Peabody Awards: Best Documentary Feature. Also nominated for 2 Oscars, 3 more BAFTAs and 1 Independent Spirit Award. Plus 11 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerWeak
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; interest faded quickly after launch
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 14K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Edward Watts, Waad al-Kateab
- Sama Al-KhateabSelf
- Hamza Al-KhateabSelf
- Waad al-KateabSelf