A Syrian Love Story

SOAS Arabic Film Society presents A Syrian Love Story.

A Syrian Love Story (Dir Sean McAllister) is a documentary about Amer, 45, who met Raghda, 40, in a Syrian prison cell 15 years ago. He first saw her bloodied face after a beating when she was placed in a neighbouring cell. Over months they communicated through a tiny hole they’d secretly made in the wall. They fell in love and when released got married and started a family together. This film tells the poignant story of their family torn apart by the tyrannical Assad dictatorship.

Filming began in Syria in 2009, prior to wave of revolutions and changes in the Arab world. At the time, Raghda was a political prisoner and Amer was caring for their young children alone. The film was made in the thriving heart of the Yarmouk Camp in Damascus, now an infamous news story as its inhabitants are being starved to death by the Assad regime. At 4 and 14, Bob and Kaka have already spent their whole lives watching either their father or mother go to prison for their political beliefs.

The SOAS Arabic Film Society seeks to showcase films in Arabic from all genres.