A Syrian Love Story: Of Love, Despair and Revolution

British filmmaker Sean McAllister brought to reel the life of two Syrians in a way nobody thought. When one thinks about Syria – war and refugees are the first two words that pop up in one’s mind but romance in the ruins is not something which can be derived easily. ‘A Syrian Love Story’ isn’t a clichéd romantic tale but a real life story - more of love, despair and revolution - filmed in the most rational way.

The documentary featuring the life of Amer Daoud – a Palestinian freedom fighter and Raghda Hassan – a Syrian revolutionary, has been making all the right noises at various film festivals including BAFTA 2016 and Fest Grand Jury Award.

Filmmaker takes to the home video style shooting and makes it a point to throw himself in frame time and again which makes it far more personalised than it would have been otherwise. McAllister, who was even jailed during the process, navigates through the protagonists’ life and gives a glimpse into their feelings for each other, ideals for revolution and the strong sense of bonding for their 3 children – Shadi, Kaka and Bob.

The story, filmed over 5 years, begins in 2009 – when filmmaker Sean meets Amer. In the very first meeting, Amer opens up to him and tells him the heart-warming story of how he fell in love with Ragdha in a prison cell post which they started a family how he’s taking care of their children alone as Ragdha is back in prison. Sean and his camera follow the life of Amer closely – and one fine day when Ragdha is freed – the happiness of family knows no bounds. Soon after Sean is taken into custody and then the downfall – of them as a family, of them as a couple and of them as citizens, begin. They move to a camp first, then to Lebanon and finally to Paris but their marriage is slowly falling apart. Whether it’s because of the revolution? Or because they rushed into it too quickly? Or because they just weren’t compatible enough – can’t be said. But what’s evident is that the two of them have feelings for each other till the very end.

The film is adorned with several walkouts, suicide attempts and infidelity accusations but all of them too real that it grips you. Probably, one of the reasons why this documentary stays with you much after you watch it is because real stories tend to have a huge impact on one’s mind and heart.