Little Gandhi

The Arab Spring protests in repressive Middle East countries saw hundreds of thousands of people put their lives on the line for freedom in 2010. But in Syria, the world is still witnessing the tragic consequences of President Bashar al-Assad’s unconscionable and continuing destruction of his own people. Filmmaker Sam Kadi’s documentary serves as a reminder of what Syrian hopes looked like all those years ago, particularly how a young hero and martyr—26-year-old Ghiyath Matar—became the face of Arab Spring resistance in Syria at the beginning. Little Gandhi offers little visual or audio evidence of Matar’s advocacy of non-violence, but there are plenty of interviews with former activists who tell detailed stories about his enormous influence on the movement before he died brutally at the hands of government torturers. Matar hoped to persuade security forces that the people marching in the streets were their brothers and sisters, but both Assad and the men with guns had other ideas. The film also reminds viewers that while ordinary Syrians took up arms to fight back, the international community did little to stop Assad as he destroyed cities and murdered or displaced millions. Although often disheartening, this film serves as a powerful memorial for a brave man who tried to make a difference. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)