Watch Aleppo: Notes from the Dark

Aleppo: Notes from the Dark is a documentary film that takes a harrowing and deeply personal look at the devastating Syrian civil war. The film follows three local residents who document their daily lives amidst the chaos and destruction of Aleppo, one of the largest cities in Syria. The first half of the film focuses on a young father named Khaled, who works as a volunteer rescue worker in the city. We see him and his team rushing through the streets responding to explosions and airstrikes, pulling survivors from the rubble, and rushing them to makeshift hospitals.

While Khaled's bravery is inspiring, the film doesn't shy away from the horrific reality of the situation. We see the mangled bodies of children pulled from the rubble, and we hear the desperate cries of people searching for missing loved ones.

The second subject of the documentary is a female lawyer named Hala, who is working to document the human rights abuses being committed by the Syrian government. Hala's work puts her in constant danger, as she is at risk of arrest or worse for daring to challenge the government's authority.

Despite the risks, Hala is committed to her work, and we see her visiting families of missing persons, documenting war crimes, and taking her case to international organizations like the UN.

The third subject of the film is a father named Abu Omar, who is struggling to keep his family safe in the midst of the war. We see him and his family huddled together in their apartment, listening to the sounds of explosions outside and hoping that they will survive another day.

As the film progresses, we see the toll that the war takes on each of these individuals. Khaled's face is etched with exhaustion as he spends long hours rescuing people from the wreckage. Hala's frustration is palpable as she watches the international community fail to take action. And Abu Omar's fear is ever-present as he tries to keep his family safe amidst the chaos.

The documentary is shot in a raw and intimate style, with the footage often shaky and blurry as the cameramen run through the streets alongside the rescue workers. This style adds to the sense of urgency and danger that permeates the film.

The filmmakers also make clever use of animation to illustrate some of the more complex political and historical aspects of the conflict. This helps to give viewers a better understanding of the underlying causes of the war and the reasons why it has been so difficult to resolve.

Ultimately, Aleppo: Notes from the Dark is a powerful and sobering film that offers a deeply personal perspective on one of the most devastating conflicts of our time. Through the eyes of these three individuals, we see both the resilience of the human spirit and the horror of war. It's a film that is sure to leave a lasting impact on anyone who watches it.

Aleppo: Notes from the Dark is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes.