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“Extraordinarily intimate... An astonishing portrait of urban combat, and a gripping reflection of the universal, eternal truth of warfare - that soldiers fight first and foremost for the soldiers alongside them... It is an extraordinary film – insanely brave, but also intimate and human.”
“A stunner of a new documentary - The intense, visceral footage of the fighting is bracing enough but the insight into the soldiers can be heart-scalding. ”
MOSUL
In October 2016, an elite team of Iraqi Special Forces was tasked with leading the fight to defeat ISIS in Mosul. It was the beginning of a brutal battle of attrition that was to last almost nine months. Filmed over the course of the whole campaign, Mosul follows the experiences of four young soldiers: Anmar, a college graduate seeking revenge after his father was the victim of a suicide attack; Hussein, a ruthless sniper and aspiring football player; Jamal, a wise-cracking sergeant; and Amjad, a young recruit excited to be on the frontline. Full of hope and good intentions at the beginning of the campaign, the soldiers are forced to confront the reality of fighting an elusive and vicious enemy in a city full of trapped civilians who are themselves fearful and suspicious of the army. And with victory in sight, tragedy strikes. When ISIS eventually capitulates, much of the city is destroyed, and the surviving soldiers are left haunted by what they have seen and done.
AWARDS
Emmy® Award for Outstanding Cinematograhy (Winner)
Overseas Press Club of America Edward R. Murrow Award for Best TV documentary (Winner)
Judges: Filmmaker Olivier Sarbil follows a squad of Iraqi Special Forces as they fight their way house by house through Mosul. His documentary stands out for the way it connects viewers with the characters of four Iraqi soldiers, putting human faces on an inhuman conflict. This is the ugly, unpredictable but relentless face of war, seen from up very close through Sarbil’s lens – and clearly at substantial risk to himself.
Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Gold Baton Award (Winner)
Grand Award for Cinematography at the New York festivals International TV & Film Awards (Winner)
British Academy Television Craft Awards (BAFTA) for Cinematography (Nominee)
Emmy® Award for Outstanding Short Documentary (Nominee)
IDA Documentary Association Awards for Best Short (Nominee)
Broadcast Awards for Best Documentary (Winner)
Gold World Medal for Cinematography at the New York festivals International TV & Film Awards (Winner)
Venice TV Award for Best Documentary (Winner)
Jury Grand Prize at the Golden Nymph Awards (Winner)
Special Commendation from the Grierson Award judges - Best Current Affairs Documentary
Judges: It humanises a story that is complex, difficult and remote. The documentary is beautifully made with incredible access, and is filmed with compassion. This is an extraordinary film that takes you into the heart of battle through the eyes of some real heroes. It contains great depth and complexity.
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REVIEWS
CREDITS
Director and Cinematographer: Olivier Sarbil
Co-Director: James Jones Producers: James Jones, Raney Aronson-Rath, Dan Edge Editing: Ella Newton Original soundtrack: Grant Marshall & Stew Jackson (Massive Attack) Production Manager: Philippa Lacey
