The film follows nineteen-year-old goalkeeper-turned-insurgent, Abdul Basset, as he and a ragtag group of comrades fight to protect the captive inhabitants of the besieged city of Homs. As one of the unlikely leaders of the Syrian rebellion Basset has become something of a totemic figure, with Le Monde labelling him an ‘icon of the revolution’. His protest songs and dark sense of humour reflect his dream of peaceful liberation from Assad’s oppressive regime, but when their hopeful uprising is met with violent resistance by government forces, he and his companions take up arms. Trailing the fearless crew over a two-year period, this remarkable film sees the city Basset once knew and loved, deserted and torn apart beyond recognition. As the audacity of hope sallows into despair, Derki affords us a glimpse of the real desperation behind the waving rifles.
Director, Talal Derki (until 05/07/14), and producer, Orwa Nyrabia (from 06/07/14), will be present to take questions following the screenings.
Showing on:
Friday 27 June – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
Saturday 28 June – Clapham Picturehouse, London
Sunday 29 June – The Phoenix Cinema, East Finchley, London
Sunday 29 June – Duke’s at Komedia, Brighton
Monday 30 June – Cameo Picturehouse, Edinburgh
Tuesday 1 July – Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle
Wednesday 2 July – City Screen Picturehouse, York
Thursday 3 July – Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool
Friday 4 July – Arthouse, Crouch End, London
Friday 4 July – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
Saturday 5 July – Hackney Picturehouse, London
Saturday 5 July – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
Sunday 6 July – The Lexi Cinema, Kensal Rise, London
Sunday 6 July – Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
Sunday 6 July – The Phoenix Picturehouse, Oxford
Monday 7 July – Cinema City, Norwich
Tuesday 8 July – Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge
Wednesday 9 July – Exeter Picturehouse
Thursday 10 July – Curzon Soho, London
Tickets can be purchased through the links above, or from returntohoms.com
“The director’s relentless, claustrophobic approach is surely an accurate reflection of the tragedy itself. There is no wider picture; the world has largely turned its back.” – The Guardian
“Like its heroes, we are pulled into the conflict with frenzied immediacy as we experience one city, the dreaded rites of passage of two friends, and ultimately an entire nation torn apart by the fog of war” – New York Times
“…puts a human face on the ongoing violence in Syria.” – Voice of America
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