The Return to Homs

It is said that Syrian civil war made normal people into fighters. Doctors and car mechanics stood shoulder to shoulder to take up arms, fight and die for their ideals. This is the message of Return to Homs. Too bad it never really realizes this potential due to a lack of clear narrative. If is full of riveting scenes and touching moments, but the outstanding vision is left unclear. This makes Return to Homs ultimately an unsatisfying watch.

It's certainly a new kind of a documentary, and it's striking to see the progression of a peaceful protest into a fullblown civil war, and along with it the growth of a footballer into a revolutionary leader. What's lacking is information about the reasons for the conflict, and I'm sure it would have benefited from some strategic updates on the conflict as a whole. As is, I doubt many will have the prior knowledge needed to fully appreciate what's happening in the documentary.

Important subject and a great start, but then nothing happens for 45 minutes. Would've been much better as a shortie.