Syrian filmmaker gives an inside look at her return home after the fall of Assad regime

Key Concepts

• Assad Regime's Fall: The end of Bashar al-Assad's 50-year rule and his flight to Russia following an insurgent takeover.
• Syrian War: A protracted and devastating conflict in Syria, characterized by widespread displacement, loss of life, and war crimes.
• Waad Al-Kateab's Documentary Work: Her role as an Oscar-nominated filmmaker and activist who documented war crimes during the Syrian conflict.
• Return to Syria: The personal journey of Waad Al-Kateab and her family returning to their homeland after years of exile.
• Reclaiming Identity and Home: The emotional and symbolic significance of returning to Syria, reclaiming lost voices, homes, and the right to exist.
• Post-Conflict Syria: The state of Syria after the fall of the regime, marked by destruction, unexploded ordnance, and a fragile hope for the future.

The Fall of the Assad Regime and Return to Syria

The transcript details the momentous occasion of Bashar al-Assad's regime ending after half a century, with his flight to Russia following an insurgent takeover. This event, occurring one year prior to the recording, marked a significant turning point for millions of Syrians who had opposed his rule, endured loss of family, friends, and homes, and experienced one of the world's most devastating wars.

Waad Al-Kateab's Personal Journey Home

The report focuses on a deeply personal account from Syrian filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, an Oscar-nominated documentarian and activist. She describes the surreal experience of returning to Syria with her husband, Hamza, her parents, and friends, all of whom were displaced by the Assad regime. The journey back was filled with a complex mix of emotions: shock, grief, fear, and hope.

Key Details of the Return:

• Timing: The return is set on December 8, 2024, at 4:00 a.m.
• Duration of Exile: Waad had been away from her hometown for twelve years and from Aleppo for eight years.
• Symbolism of the Revolution Flag: Upon crossing the border, Waad observes the flag of the revolution, a symbol that the regime attempted to erase, signifying a renewed sense of belief and freedom.
• Destruction and Danger: The journey reveals the extensive destruction of villages and the continued presence of unexploded weapons and mines, a grim legacy of the regime's actions.
• Personal History and Trauma: Waad recounts leaving Aleppo while pregnant and carrying hundreds of hours of footage documenting war crimes. Her husband, Hamza, a doctor who managed the last hospital in besieged Aleppo, was a prominent figure on the news, making him a target.

Reclaiming What Was Lost

The return to Syria is framed as an act of reclaiming what the regime had tried to take away: their voices, their homes, and their right to exist. The narrative emphasizes the deep personal connection to their homeland, symbolized by their wedding rings bearing the promise of return.

Specific Locations and Memories:

• Last Hospital in Aleppo: The building where Hamza worked and where the family lived during the war and siege is revisited. A friend, Nabeel, a former nurse, accompanies them to explore the interior, which stands as a "witness to the crimes committed here."
• House of Marriage and Birth: Waad and Hamza visit the house where they were married and where their daughter, Sama, was born. The return of nature, with flowers growing back, offers a sense of redemption.
• Hometown Visit: Waad expresses the profound significance of finally being able to visit her hometown after twelve years of hiding her identity and origin to protect her family from the regime's persecution. Her husband, Hamza, is able to meet her family for the first time.

The State of Syria and Hope for the Future

Despite the immense destruction and the lingering uncertainty, Waad Al-Kateab concludes with a sense of resilience. She describes Syria as "exhausted, wounded, but it's still breathing, still dreaming." For the first time in many years, she feels a sense of hope and the possibility of building a future in her country.

Notable Quotes

• Waad Al-Kateab: "Can you believe what's happening? What are we witnessing now? It's real. It's real."
• Woman (unidentified): "God is great. The Syrian people have topped the regime."
• Waad Al-Kateab: "Assad as fallen and Syria is free."
• Waad Al-Kateab: "Twelve years away from my hometown this year and eight years away from Aleppo. All this ends today."
• Waad Al-Kateab: "The long road to Aleppo reveals village after village destroyed, and the land is still full of unexploded weapons and mines. This is the Syria the regime left behind."
• Waad Al-Kateab: "Returning now feels like reclaiming something the regime tried to take from us, our voice, our home, our right to exist."
• Waad Al-Kateab: "Syria is exhausted, wounded, but it's still breathing, still dreaming. The situation here is uncertain. But for the first time in so many years, I can stand in my country and see a future here."

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Insurgent Takeover: A situation where a rebel or insurgent group seizes control of a territory or government.
• War Crimes: Serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, such as willful killing, torture, or extensive destruction of property.
• Displaced Persons: Individuals who have been forced to leave their homes, often due to conflict or persecution, but have not crossed an international border.
• Besieged Aleppo: The period when the city of Aleppo was surrounded and cut off by opposing forces, leading to severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.
• Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): Military weapons that have been fired, dropped, or otherwise delivered but have not detonated as intended.