For Sama

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For Sama
File:For Sama (2019).jpg
Directed by <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Produced by Waad Al-Kateab
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Hamza Al-Kateab
  • Sama Al-Kateab
  • Waad Al-Kateab
Music by Nainita Desai
Cinematography Waad Al-Kateab
Edited by Chloe Lambourne
Simon McMahon
Production
company
PBS Frontline
Channel 4 News
ITN Productions
Distributed by PBS Distribution (US)
Republic Film Distribution (UK)
Release dates
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  • March 11, 2019 (2019-03-11) (SXSW)
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  • November 19, 2019 (2019-11-19) (PBS)
Running time
 100 minutes
Country <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
  • Syria
  • United Kingdom
  • United States[1]
Language Syrian Arabic
English
Box office US$1.3 million[2][3]

For Sama (Arabic: من أجل سما‎, translit. min ʾajl Samā‎) is a 2019 documentary film produced and narrated by Waad Al-Kateab, and directed by Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts. The film focuses on Waad Al-Kateab's journey as a journalist and rebel in the Syrian uprising. Her husband is Hamza Al-Kateab, one of the few doctors left in Aleppo, and they raise their daughter Sama Al-Kateab during the Syrian Civil War.

The film had its world premiere at the South by Southwest festival on March 11, 2019,[4] where it won the Documentary Feature Competition's Grand Jury and Audience Awards.[5]

For Sama made history when it was nominated in four categories in the BAFTA awards, making it the most nominated documentary ever.[6] It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.[7]

Premise

The film shows Waad al-Kateab's life through five years in Aleppo, Syria before and during The Battle of Aleppo. An 18-year-old economics student at the University of Aleppo when the uprising began in 2011, we watch as she falls in love, gives birth to her first daughter Sama and navigates motherhood all while the conflict begins to engulf the city. She and her husband, a doctor at one of the few remaining hospitals in the city, face an agonising decision to flee to safety or stay behind to help the innocent victims of war.

Cast

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  • Hamza al-Kateab
  • Sama al-Kateab
  • Waad al-Kateab

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of Lua error in Module:Rotten_Tomatoes_data at line 72: invalid escape sequence near '"^'. based on Lua error in Module:Rotten_Tomatoes_data at line 72: invalid escape sequence near '"^'. reviews, with an average rating of Lua error in Module:Rotten_Tomatoes_data at line 72: invalid escape sequence near '"^'.. The website's critical consensus reads, "As intimate as it is heartbreakingly resonant, For Sama powerfully distills the difficult choices faced by citizens of war-torn regions."[8] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 89 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[9]

Ian Freer of Empire, wrote "It will break your heart", and he further added, "For Sama powerfully mixes the personal and the political to thought-provoking, emotional ends. The result is one of the best documentaries of 2019".[10] David Jenkins of the Little White Lies wrote, "This tough but vital documentary depicts the savage bombardment of Aleppo from a female perspective".[11] Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "[For Sama] The result is a series of deeply powerful images showing the human casualties of a war that most of us witnessed from our TV sets or computer screens, but that al-Kateab and her husband lived on a daily basis for many years".[12] Guy Lodge of the Variety wrote, "This ragged, remarkable act of cinematic witnessing sees a young woman finding her voice — as an activist, as an artist and as a parent — above the crashing, whistling din of warfare. Amid a surfeit of devastating reports from the ruins, it’s one we haven’t yet heard".[13]

Awards and nominations

For Sama made history by becoming the BAFTA's most-nominated feature documentary. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts announced the film has been nominated in four categories, Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer; Outstanding British film; Best film not in the English language and Best documentary.[14][15] For Sama won multiple awards at the British Independent Film Awards in December 2019 including: best British independent film, best documentary, best director and best editing.[16][17]

For Sama was granted "L'oeil d'or", the best documentary movie award in Cannes Film Festival in 2019.[18][19] The documentary was nominated for an Oscar at the 92nd Academy Awards in the Documentary Feature category.[20][21][22]

Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Documentary Feature Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts Nominated [23][24][25]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Documentary Feature Film For Sama Nominated
Austin Film Critics Association Best Documentary Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts Nominated
British Academy Film Awards Best Documentary Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts Won
Best Film Not in the English Language Nominated
Outstanding British Film Nominated
Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer Nominated
British Independent Film Awards Best Director Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts Won
Best British Independent Film Won
Best Documentary Won
Best Editing Chloe Lambourne and Simon McMahon Won
Best Music Nainita Desai Nominated
56th Guldbagge Awards Best Foreign Film Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts Won [26][27]
Independent Spirit Awards Best Documentary Feature Waad Al-Kateab and Edward Watts Nominated
Peabody Awards Documentary For Sama Won [28]
38th Robert Awards Best Non-English-language Feature For Sama Nominated [29][30]
Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award Seigenthaler Prize For Sama Won [31]
48th International Emmy Awards Best Documentary For Sama Won [32]
Guldbagge Best Foreign Film For Sama Won [33]
Sofia Documental Audience Award Waad Al-Kateab Won
P&V Foundation Citizenship award For Sama Won

Social impact

As For Sama got a lot of international attention, Waad Al Kateeb launched an advocacy campaign in the name of Action for Sama to advocate for the civilians of Syria. Her campaign attracted the attention of some of the most internationally known actors and actresses.

People's emotional reaction to the film is what she hopes will prompt them to action, but for the decision makers and those who have power, she expects more than just emotions after seeing her film.  "Many people came to me crying and said they are so sorry that they let that happen. […] It shows you how many people care. But on the level of decision makers […] We have tried so hard to push for action, do something, to make sure these things don't continue to happen. […] If you are in a position where you can change something, I don't want your tears, I want you to do something, you can make a difference," says Waad Al Kateab quietly but firmly.[34]

See also

References

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  23. ↑ 2020 Oscar Nominations List: Academy Award Nominees — Variety
  24. ↑ "American Factory" wins Best Documentary Feature-Oscars on YouTube
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Further reading

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External links

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