Filmmaker depicts Syrian civilians war-time suffering in animated film
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A renowned Syrian filmmaker from Santa Barbara in the US has used his cinematic expertise to raise awareness and shed light on the suffering of the civilians in the Syrian war.
Sam Kadi, who grew up in Aleppo, northwestern Syria, created the Lamya’s Poem film, which carries messages of peace to war-torn areas of the world.
The film features two main characters, a younger version of the famous poet Rumi and a Syrian refugee named Lamya where they travel together through time.
Kadi said “Anytime I can educate you while I am entertaining you, I’ve got a winner,” said Kadi. “I always try to deal with subjects which open people’s eyes.”
Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, “More than 13 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with 6.8 million seeking refuge in the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, and more than 6.7 million displaced internally,” according to the UNHCR.
“Every time I watch what’s going on in Syria, and every time I watch an innocent life that’s being lost, or slaughtered for no reason, it’s hard,” said Kadi.
Kadi wants to motivate people to work for peace through his work as a filmmaker. “To tell the people that they need to be aware of these things, so they don’t happen again,” he said.