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IMDbPro

For Sama

  • 2019
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
12K
YOUR RATING
For Sama (2019)
Watch Trailer [English SUB]
Play trailer2:17
1 Video
51 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyWar

FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war.FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war.FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war.

  • Directors
    • Waad Al-Kateab
    • Edward Watts
  • Stars
    • Waad Al-Kateab
    • Sama Al-Khateab
    • Hamza Al-Khateab
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    12K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Waad Al-Kateab
      • Edward Watts
    • Stars
      • Waad Al-Kateab
      • Sama Al-Khateab
      • Hamza Al-Khateab
    • 91User reviews
    • 104Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 71 wins & 52 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer [English SUB]
    Trailer 2:17
    Watch Trailer [English SUB]

    Photos51

    Waad Al-Kateab in For Sama (2019)
    Edward Watts in For Sama (2019)
    For Sama (2019)
    Waad Al-Kateab in For Sama (2019)
    For Sama (2019)
    Waad Al-Kateab in For Sama (2019)
    Waad Al-Kateab in For Sama (2019)
    For Sama (2019)
    Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts at an event for For Sama (2019)
    For Sama (2019)
    For Sama (2019)
    Waad Al-Kateab, Hamza Al-Khateab, and Sama Al-Khateab in For Sama (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Waad Al-Kateab
    Waad Al-Kateab
    • Self
    Sama Al-Khateab
    • Self
    Hamza Al-Khateab
    • Self
    Afra
    • Self
    Salim
    • Self
    Wisam
    • Self
    Zain
    • Self
    Naya
    • Self
    Taima Al-Khateab
    • Self
    Dana Abed
    • Soraida
    Tia Alkerdi
    Yara Ibrahim
    • Directors
      • Waad Al-Kateab
      • Edward Watts
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Waad Al-Kateab fled to safety in Turkey in 2016. She is now a resident of the UK. (Al-Khateab was actually pregnant with Sama's sister, Taima, when she became a refugee from her native Syria.)
    • Quotes

      Waad Al-Khateab: Sama. You're the most beautiful thing in our life. But what a life I've brought you into. You didn't choose this. Will you ever forgive me?

    • Connections
      Featured in Jeremy Vine: Episode #2.214 (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Crazy
      Written by Willie Nelson

      Performed by Julio Iglesias and Dave Koz (saxophone)

    User reviews91

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    Truly outstanding. Both heartbreaking AND heartwarming.
    If you are looking for gratuitous expositions of the Syrian war this isn't for you.

    If however, you are looking for an in-depth and long-term study of how human beings driven by principle and humanity behave with integrity, in an absolute hell-hole that is East Aleppo, then it is.

    It's a heart-wrenching (but actually also heart-warming) exploration of what makes human beings, on the right side of the fence, great.

    It's set throughout the siege of Aleppo and follows the story of Waad Al-Khateab her daughter Sama and her husband (a doctor/surgeon/activist who runs an unofficial hospital) Hamza whom she meets, marries and has the aforementioned child, Sama, with during the documentary.

    Waad films the proceedings, but the end product is a collaboration with co-director Edward Watts (who has several ISIS-based, and award winning, TV documentaries on his CV). Both deserve immense credit.

    It's essentially a love letter to Waad and Hamsa's daughter, as Waad narrates her story of the battle to her daughter whilst showcasing the incredible humanitarian work of her fearless husband in conditions that are beyond credible.

    ISIS targeted the hospitals of Aleppo (a HUGE city of 4.6 million inhabitants), systematically blowing them up and sending them underground into what look like unsanitary conditions but somehow seem to function throughout the siege. They are constantly bombed and on many occasions makeshift operating theatres become awash with blood.

    The scenes of devastation that slowly unfold in the last few weeks of Aleppo's intolerable siege are quite horrendous. We are talking about a blitz here - and the city becomes a shell, very reminiscent of both London and Dresden in WWII.

    And yet, life goes on. Despite the torture, and the many deaths that we graphically witness, there is a strong sense of defiance and just getting on with it. (Keep Calm and Carry On.)

    One scene, in particular, when we witness the birth of a, perhaps, still born baby is so deeply distressing that you will never forget the images. It's mind-blowing.

    This is a (very warped) joy of a film.

    It's not blessed with any frills AT ALL. No music, no SFX, nothing. Just a story that is devoid of schmaltz or emotional manipulation. It just says what it sees. It places not blame. It vilifies nobody.

    But what emerges is a heroic culture that everyone should see.

    Expect success in the next awards season.
    helpful•31
    7
    • markgorman
    • Oct 27, 2019

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 26, 2019 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Syria
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Arabic
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Para Sama
    • Filming locations
      • Aleppo, Syria
    • Production companies
      • Channel 4 News
      • Channel 4
      • Frontline
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $43,796
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,350
      • Jul 28, 2019
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,397,546
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.20:1

    Related news

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