An Unexpected Love Story
Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak’s 84-minute film Birds of War exposes details of the war in Syria while retelling details of an unexpected love connection in the midst of chaos.
The documentary begins with real footage of Habak crossing the border of Syria and Turkey. Even without initial context, the audience is immersed in panic and intrigue.
The film follows Boulos, a Lebanese journalist stationed in London, whose focus is to share footage of the Syrian war and to deliver compelling stories to the BBC.
Habak is a Syrian activist committed to capturing footage of the war by putting himself right in the center of the attack zones. As he puts it, “I brace myself to go down with the city . . . my archive must survive as proof of what I gave and what was taken from me.”
The two start to exchange messages, mostly about relaying footage. While Janay is safe in London, she begins to grow worried for Habak. His courage inspires her and eventually leads her to go to Lebanon and begin her role as an activist. They eventually marry and struggle with balancing their passions of activism and their hopes of starting a quiet life together.
The film splices footage from Habak’s archives into their live communications with each other. The pacing of the film is very effective in following the timeline, as well as in contrasting their different worlds.
Narration switches between the two, giving the audience both perspectives. We become invested not only in their safety but in their forbidden connection. While watching the two of them fall in love is beautiful, the most compelling parts of the film are videos of the Syrian people in Aleppo, the major battleground.
Seeing the impacts of the war on the country and its people is overwhelming. Birds of War is compelling, tragic, and beautiful. It describes a love story between two unlikely people and their love and dedication to their countries.
It’s a powerful watch for viewers interested in firsthand accounts of war and the human connections that survive within it.
Screenings of Birds of War (West Coast Premiere, 84 minutes, UK-Syria-Lebanon, rated R, in English and Arabic) at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival April 23-28 are sponsored by SLO Review.