Red Lines

Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs' 2014 documentary on the events that led to the Syrian civil war and the brutality that arose during the conflict is certainly timely, especially considering that the repercussions currently continue to play out on the global political stage. Red Lines recounts how the Arab Spring movement arrived in Syria in 2011, setting off protests against the dictatorial regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The initially peaceful demonstrations degenerated into violence between the government and militant forces seeking to overthrow Assad. At the center here are efforts by activists Mouaz Moustafa and Razan Shalab Al-Sham to bring international support to the anti-Assad forces and bridge a union between a pair of rival rebel groups, the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Emergency Task Force. The activists face considerable obstacles: a lack of media presence on the battle frontlines, distrust between the different anti-Assad camps, and pronounced reluctance by Western governments to become actively involved in the uprising. Red Lines provides a harrowing glimpse into the humanitarian disaster created by the civil war, while also delivering a stirring portrait of men and women who are willing to die in order to bring a change of leadership to their country. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)