Barbara Walters chats with Forward Syria
Swaying between art and seduction
Discussing monetary policy with the man in charge
Where the earth screams in horror
10/10/2011 - Issue 55
Nawafez al-Roh: Syria’s finest 2011 documentary
Nawafez al-Roh, which means Windows of the Soul, is a groundbreaking narrative film released at the recently renovated al-Kindi Cinema in Dummar and Damascus. Co-producing the film are the state-run Public Organization for Cinema, the Antiquities Department, and Jozoor Cultural Organization.
The film documents Syria’s 8,000 year history, with a civilization that archeologists say is one of the most ancient on earth. It talks about the Kingdom of Mari, for example, and the heroism of the ancient city of Palmyra, which the film claims, was believed to have been erected by genies (jinn)—because of its beauty and splendor. No human
being back then was believed to have been capable of creating such a city.
It also delves into the excavated city of Ebla in northern
Syria, which was discovered by an Italian mission in 1975. During the second millennium BC, Syria was occupied successively by Canaanites (Phoenicians), followed by the Persians, Romans, and the Byzantines.
The film takes audiences through the old markets of Aleppo and Damascus, visiting the shrine of Ibn Arabi and the Umayyad Mosque. It wraps up with poetry by Syria’s late poet Nizar Qabbani.
The film, which is Syria’s finest yet in docudrama, is directed by Allaith Hajjo and Ammar al-Ani, featuring celebrated star Jamal Suleiman as the narrator. Suleiman is filmed walking through Syrian ruins throughout the film, sipping tea on the Syrian coast with historian Mohammad Mhaffel, riding in row boats with lay people, chatting with schoolchildren, rummaging through books at the Assad Library, and discussing modern history at the old auditorium of Damascus University with Forward’s editor-in-chief, Sami Moubayed.
