Watch Captains of Za'atari

The movie "Captains of Za'atari" takes us on a heartwarming journey of hope and resilience as we follow two young Syrian refugees, Mahmoud and Fawzi, who dream of becoming professional soccer players. They live in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan, which is one of the largest refugee camps in the world, and where over 80,000 Syrians have taken shelter from the ongoing conflict in their country.

The movie starts with a glimpse of the camp's harsh and volatile environment, where children struggle to maintain their innocence despite the cruelty they face daily. Despite this, Mahmoud and Fawzi refuse to let their circumstances dictate their future. The two teenagers' dreams are fuelled by their love for soccer, and they both hope to make it into a professional team someday.

Their fortunes change when they meet Ibrahim, a former Syrian football star, who has been living in the camp for a few years. Ibrahim sees their potential and agrees to coach them, along with a few other kids in the camp. Despite having only a dusty, rocky field to play on, the young players' passion for soccer helps them transcend the barren environment.

As they train, they begin to build a bond that transcends their differences, and the collective goal of making it to a Syrian football match becomes the prism through which they see their future. They face their first challenge when they realize that the Syrian team they had been expected to play for is no longer playing, so that the refugees' fate in the dust bowl seems bleak.

Mahmoud and Fawzi refuse to give up, and they decide to form their own team, The Lions of Zaatari, with the help of their coach Ibrahim. Recruiting other children, they put their heads together and devised a plan to train hard, and fundraise. As they train, they become increasingly aware of the challenges they face: a lack of equipment, insufficient food, and the unrelenting dry heat. Simultaneously, we also see the challenges faced by their families living in Za'atari: sanitation issues, a lack of schooling, and frequent electricity outages.

Despite these obstacles, their passion for soccer keeps them focused on their goal, and their story becomes a testament to the power of perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

As the movie draws to a close, The Lions of Za'atari face their greatest challenge yet as they compete in a national tournament in Amman, Jordan. Here they compete against teams from around the country and fight to show that they have what it takes to become professional soccer players.

Overall, "Captains of Za'atari" is a moving and inspirational tale that elevates the lived experience of Syrian refugees above the often-grim news headlines. The film celebrates the power of community, the joy of working towards a collective goal, and the resilience of those whose lives have been uprooted by war. It offers an insightful window into the complex lives of refugees and how they continue to thrive amidst seemingly insurmountable odds.

Captains of Za'atari is a 2021 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes.