In the gripping documentary film Red Lines, we follow activist Razan Shalab al-Sham and lobbyist Mouaz Moustafa as they fight to bring humanitarian aid and a future of democracy to a post-Assad Syria. Directed by Andrea Kalin and Oliver Lukacs, this informative and engaging documentary resource adeptly elucidates the ongoing turmoil and complexities of the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
Razan is part of a network of activists who smuggle medical aid, fighters, money, and journalists into Syria. Mouaz, who spent years on Capitol Hill and now heads the Syrian Emergency Task Force, was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria to a Palestinian mother and Syrian father, later immigrated to Arkansas with his family, and became a vital figure in delivering humanitarian aid to activists like Razan. While some miltant Islamist groups argued that Islam and democracy were incompatible, others, like Mouaz, believe that democracy and faith are not mutually exclusive, and advocated for civilian courts and a civilian-run police force. Razan and Mouaz wish to establish a democratic village in Syria in the hopes that more villages will follow suit.
The history of the crisis in Syria is extensive and complicated – the regime of Bashar al-Assad initially appeared unshaken by the sweeping wave of the Arab Spring that was toppling dictatorships across the Middle East. Bashar's father, Hafez al-Assad, had ruled Syria with an iron fist for three decades, suppressing opposition with brutal force, arrests, and torture. His death in 2000 led to Bashar inheriting a totalitarian police state, and he believed the population had been subdued until an incident in the city of Dara'a.
In Dara'a, security forces under Bashar's command arrested and tortured a group of children caught writing anti-war graffiti on the city's walls. This incident led to a crackdown on peaceful protests, which, rather than quelling the unrest, fueled even more significant protests. The Assad regime dismissed the Arab Spring as a "conspiracy" and labeled protesters as "terrorists," prompting a brutal response that soon escalated into total war.
The international community, concerned about the crisis, set "red lines" for potential military intervention, but failed to realize that these lines had already been crossed. Up to this point, the last uprising against the Assad regime occurred in 1982 and resulted in the Hama Massacre, where Bashar’s father used the Syrian army to kill 40,000 civilians.
The media blackout enforced by the regime ensured that the world would be kept ignorant of the situation, but the advent of the internet, as the conflict persisted, changed everything. Razan says that her first act of resistance was recording videos, which would later be uploaded to YouTube. Different online groups began coordinating the upload of videos, and regular people who had not expected that they would become revolutionaries were thrust into the role by illuminating these atrocities to the global community.
The situation on the ground was dire; reporter Marie Colvin of the London Sunday Times exposed the immense suffering of Syrian civilians, dismissing claims that the Assad regime was targeting military resistance as a “complete and utter lie”, stating that there were no military targets in the area she was reporting from, and that “every civilian house on the street has been hit.” Marie Colvin was killed by the shelling in Homs just hours after this report, and the death toll was rising rapidly. At the time of her death in February 2012, the death toll was 7,500, rising to 60,000 by the end of 2012 as stated by conservative estimates made by the United Nations.
As peaceful protests transitioned into armed conflict, activists were arrested or killed, and civilians joined army defectors to fight against the Assad regime, which had the backing of powerful nations like Russia, Iran, and China. The conflict attracted foreign fighters on both sides, turning entire cities into war zones.
The damage done by the regime’s humanitarian blockade is insurmountable. Hospitals and ambulances are targeted, with over 60% of hospitals and 80% of ambulances destroyed. As refugee camps swell with thousands of displaced people, initially beginning with only hundreds, an entire generation of children is left hungry, displaced, uneducated, and traumatized, prompting questions about the country's future. In the face of these horrors, the lackluster response from the international community adds a sense of desperation.
The world watched as the situation deteriorated, raising debates about whether the United States should intervene. It is a high-stakes game with a pivotal question: had a "red line" been crossed? The use of chemical weapons brought this question to the forefront. The production of the film ended in 2014, but the Syrian crisis persists, with Syrians now among the most displaced people in the world.
Despite the sheer complexity of the longstanding conflict, the documentary does a good job of presenting information in an effective yet accessible manner. The film competently delves into the intricacies of the conflict, highlighting the difference between militant groups, the political movements involved, and their motives, as well as offering extensive historical context that will leave viewers with minimal prior knowledge of the situation with a solid understanding of the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Razan and Mouaz are shown to be incredibly passionate and steadfast in their convictions to fight for a free Syria, and their dedication is worthy of immense adoration, if not infectious.
The film does not shy away from the gruesome realities of the conflict, showing graphic footage that may be disturbing for some audiences. Even images that do not depict outright violence, such as images of children playing with bullets, a clear reflection of the normalcy of war and violence in their lives, are shocking. Though these images are unpleasant, they are necessary to communicate the direness of the situation.
Red Lines offers an engrossing and harrowing glimpse into a nation's struggle for freedom and democracy, where hope and despair hang in the balance, and where the international community's response remains a pressing concern. It is a well-made and engaging documentary resource for those looking to learn more about the humanitarian crisis in Syria; it is a compelling illumination of a tragedy that is often ignored by the global community.
How would audiences react to this screening?
While harrowing in its depictions of brutal violence faced by Syrians, the selfless actions of Razan, Mouaz, and their allies are inspirational. Audiences may be compelled to inform themselves further about this ongoing crisis.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
Red Lines would be a valuable documentary resource for community colleges and universities offering classes in international relations, Middle East policy, political science, current events, and international law.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Red Lines would be a valued resource for film collections focusing on political science, international relations, current events, and Middle East policy.
WARNING: Red Lines is intended for mature audiences due to disturbing content about the humanitarian crisis in Syria. This trailer features graphic images and footage. Viewer discretion is advised.
Director's Bio
Andrea Kalin is the creative visionary and founder of Spark Media, a production company dedicated to crafting stories with a strong social conscience. Her films have aired on major networks around the globe, screened theatrically to sold-out audiences, and earned more than 100 industry awards, including a Prime Time Emmy, Golden Globe and WGA nominations. Andrea specializes in bringing to viewers the emotional front line where lives of courage, perseverance and dignity transcend seemingly insurmountable hardships.
Accolades
“An insightful exploration of the Syrian crisis from the perspective of influential insiders.” - Basil Tsoikos, What (Not) To Doc
“The value of the film is its ability to take a viewer beyond the headlines.” - Sheldon Kirshner, Journal
“A powerful and provocative documentary; one that is still relevant today.” - Same Cooper, Pretty Clever Films
“It is, I think, one of the most inspiring films this year.” - Myrocia Watamaniuk, Hot Docs
“Red Lines will have you on the edge of your seat.” - Adam Donaldson, We Got This Covered
“We need more movies like this.” - Ines Raicheva, Spisanie
“This documentary plays like an espionage thriller.” - Eric Marchen, Toronto Film Scene
“Unforgettable.” - Barbara Pokras, Woodstock Film Festival
Awards
- Best Documentary, Woodstock Film Festival
- Top 20 Audience Favorite, Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival
- Humanitarian Award, Tiburon International Film Festival
- Most Disturbing Documentary, Ramdam Festival
- Best Director, StarDoc Film Festival
- Award of Excellence, IndieFEST
- Award of Excellence, Impact Doc Awards
- Humanitarian Award, Global Film Awards
- Accolade Award, Global Film Competition
- Gold Peer Award, TIVA-DC
- Pixie Award for Motion Graphics
Festival and Special Screenings
- Woodstock Film Festival
- Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival
- DocAviv International Film Festival
- Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
- Tiburon International Film Festival
- Cucalorus Film Festival
- UNAFF International Documentary Festival
- WAM! Boston Film Festival
- Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
- Ramdam Festival
- Red Rock Film Festival
- Festival des Libertes
- Mumbai Women’s International Film Festival
- Sofia MENAR Film Festival
- One World Human Rights Film Festival
- Human Rights Film Festival, Zurich
- One World Brussels
- MESA FilmFest
- Little Rock Film Festival
- StarDoc Film Festival
- WOW Film Festival
- Rotas e Rituais, Lisbon
- DocsDF Documentary Film Festival
- DocuWest International Film Festival
- Budapest International Film Festival
- Utrikespolitiska föreningen, Göteborg
- DocHouse, London
- Additional screening and discussion events at the U.S. Capitol, Amnesty International, the U.S. Institute for Peace, the U.S. Institute for Near East Policy, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum, Dartmouth College, the Clinton School of Public Service, and the University of Arkansas College of Fine Arts and Communication, among others.
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A field hospital donated by Italy - Darkush Region, Syria
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Child in the Karameh Refugee Camp, Syria
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Family in the Karameh Refugee Camp, Syria
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FSA soldiers stationed on the Syrian-Turkish border - Tal Abyad, Syria
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FSA soldiers, Liwa al-Umma - Tal Abyad, Syria
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Maia showing video of her home destroyed - Karameh Refugee Camp, Syria
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Mock elections - Gazientep, Turkey
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Mouaz and Razan - Washington, D.C.
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Mouaz and Razan connect General Salim Idris and a U.S. contact - Washington, D.C.
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Mouaz and Razan deliver humanitarian aid - Antakya, Turkey
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Mouaz by the White House - Washington, D.C.
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Nagham leads a mock election exercise - Gaziantep, Turkey
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On the Syrian-Turkish Border - Khirbet al-Joz, Syria
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Razan plans a border crossing - Antakya, Turkey
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Razan with Syrian refugee children - Karameh Refugee Camp, Syria
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Syrian child - Hacipasa, Turkey
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Syrian child sitting atop an abandoned tank - Darkush Region, Syria
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Young girl holding a baby - Karameh Refugee Camp, Syria