Mosul (2019 documentary film)
| Mosul | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Dan Gabriel |
| Written by | Daniel Gabriel Mike Tucker |
| Produced by | Matt Schrader |
| Cinematography |
|
| Edited by | Christopher Campbell |
| Music by | Photek |
Production company | Two Rivers Pictures |
| Distributed by | Gravitas Ventures |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | English Arabic |
Mosul is a 2019 American war documentary film about the battle to reclaim the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from 2016 to 2017.[1]
Overview
[edit]The film is the directorial debut from Dan Gabriel, who worked in the region as a CIA counter-terrorism officer, and also produced the film.[2] The film focuses on the intersecting narratives of the various Iraqi ethnic groups that were involved in the operation: Sunni tribesman, Shiite militias, Christian fighters, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. The eyewitness footage was captured over nine months by a camera crew embedded with various units of the Iraqi forces.[3] The film follows Iraqi journalist Ali Maula who is embedded with the militia, along with war widow Um Hanadi, and ISIS recruiter Nasser Issa.[4] Others that appear in footage of Maula's interviews include Captain Alaa Atah of the Iraqi Emergency Response Brigade and Sheikh "The Crocodile" Saleh.[5]
Release
[edit]Mosul premiered at the 2019 Cleveland International Film Festival. The official release date for digital distribution is May 14, 2019,[3][6] by Gravitas Ventures.[2] The film's original score was composed by Grammy-nominated British record producer Photek. The documentary is 86 minutes long.[7] The original score was written by Photek.[2]
Reception
[edit]On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 83% based on reviews from six critics.[3]
Film Inquiry wrote, "Gritty, powerful and honest, the film begs to be experienced, discussed, and remembered."[5] Michael Rechtshaffen of the Los Angeles Times said "while not exactly uncharted documentary territory, the Iraq conflict is thought-provokingly portrayed in 'Mosul'."[8] Laura DeMarco called the film "a gripping narrative of life during 'total warfare'."[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Gray, Tim (August 29, 2018). "Alex Wolff, Dominique Fishback to Receive San Diego Festival Honors". Variety.
- ^ a b c "Film News Roundup: 'Mia and the White Lion', 'Mosul'". February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019..
- ^ a b c "Mosul (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Review: Documentary views 'Mosul' through the eyes of an Iraqi journalist". Los Angeles Times. April 25, 2019.
- ^ a b Mock, Adam (May 13, 2019). "MOSUL: An Unhealed Wound On The Psyche Of A Nation". Film Inquiry.
- ^ BWW News Desk. "Awards Announced For 2018 San Diego International Film Festival". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ "Mosul - Cleveland International Film Festival :: March 27 - April 7, 2019". ClevelandFilm.org.
- ^ Rechtshaffen, Michael (April 25, 2019). "Review: Documentary views 'Mosul' through the eyes of an Iraqi journalist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- ^ DeMarco, Laura (April 4, 2019). "Cleveland International Film Festival: Powerful 'Mosul' documentary to have world premiere". cleveland. Retrieved August 6, 2020.