Greetings from Aleppo

Greetings from Aleppo is an impactful and emotionally-charged documentary film that offers a raw, unfiltered perspective on life amidst a war-ravaged Aleppo during the peak of the Syrian Civil War. Focusing on the human element against the backdrop of political conflict, this groundbreaking Dutch-Syrian co-production, co-directed by the talented pair of Issa Touma, Floor van der Meulen, and Thomas Vroege, serves both as an ode to the resilient spirit of ordinary citizens and a stark reminder of the devastating price of war.

The film opens a direct and intimate window into the daily nuances of Aleppo residents as they navigate through each day, attempting to maintain semblance of their lives amid the constant threat of missiles and gunfire. It portrays the harsh reality of living in a volatile war zone while throwing light on the human capacity to endure, adapt, and carry on with dignity and courage.

At the heart of Greetings from Aleppo is the character of Issa Touma, a Syrian photographer, and art curator, who is the film's key observer and narrator. Through his camera lens, Touma capably documents the stark contrast between the once-cultural hub that Aleppo was and its destroyer war-torn present. His poignant images and videos capture both moments of violent disruption and survival in the face of adversity. Touma's voiceover acts as a running commentary on the events unfolding on the screen, imbuing the film with an air of saddened reflection that grounds this chaotic tale in reality.

The narrative of Greetings from Aleppo is not a traditional one - rather, the film is closer to a visual diary, a collection of real-life moments that are alternatively mundane, devastating, hopeful, and frightening. It moves away from the news headlines and resolves to give a human context to the ongoing conflict that is often missing from mainstream media coverage.

One of the primary themes of the film is resilience and the human spirit. Despite the ruins that surround them, the citizens of Aleppo are portrayed as individuals who hold on tightly to their traditions, their humanity, and their sense of community. Throughout the film, we're shown how life, with its joys and sorrows, persists, even in the harshest circumstances. Moments such as a mother bathing her newborn, a patriarch playing oud amidst the rubble, or children playing and laughing underline the endurance of life, human tenacity, and the collective hope that defines the spirit of Aleppo – both past and present.

Greetings from Aleppo also touch upon the themes of displacement and homeland, the whole spectrum of human emotions from despair to hope to sheer fear, along with moments of beauty and brightness in an otherwise grim situation. It also exhibits a sense of locality, portrayed almost as a love letter to a city that witnessed flourishing art and culture and history, now standing in ruins, yet persisting and singing its own resilience.

While most of the film is shot on handheld cameras and smartphones, the quality of the footage is not compromised. The filmmakers skillfully manipulate the constraints of filming in a hazardous environment into an artistic advantage. Aesthetic elements such as unsteady shots, fast tracking, and sudden turns create a sense of urgency and chaos effectively.

The milieu of Greetings from Aleppo is a unique blend of the ordinary and the apocalyptic - a city where people alternate between the role of an ordinary citizen and a wartime survivor. It does not shy away from showing the harsh realities of war. However, it also takes care to highlight the determination and sheer will power that enable the citizens to look for joy and normalcy against overwhelming odds.

In conclusion, Greetings from Aleppo is a disturbing yet beautiful documentary that takes a deep-dive into the daily life and struggle of the citizens of war-torn Aleppo. It serves as a powerful testament to human resilience, arguing that real-life heroes aren't always the ones wrenching triggers, sometimes they are the ones carrying on with their lives under exceptional circumstances. It's a stark reminder of the unseen humanistic toll of a geopolitical conflict.