We Syrians are haunted by the wind. The saying goes, “be ready, the past is coming.” And I say, “be ready, Syrian films are coming like the wind.” -Ahmad Alhaj
REVOLUTION OF THE WIND is a series of autobiographical Syrian fiction and documentary films exploring migration, grief, memory and history following the political instability of the Arab Spring. Within this program, the wind is understood to be the central metaphor that represents destiny and which links the films together. Whether through unleashing its wrath, or by leading in flight, the wind is an element that guides the lives of countless people in ways unseen. Primarily shot across North America and Europe, the films present deeply humanizing narratives of Syrian experiences, shedding light of the contradictions and irreconcilable realities of longing for a past that haunts the present.
REVOLUTION OF THE WIND is curated by Ahmad Alhaj and presented by ArteEast. This program is part of the legacy program Unpacking the ArteArchive, which preserves and presents 20 years of film and video programming by ArteEast. The program will be screened online on artearchive.org from April 11 - 21. The in-person screening takes place on Sunday, April 21 at IAIA, Institute of Arab and Islamic Art.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO MORE (2023)
In the summer of 2020, Afraa, the director, and her three counterparts – Rahaf, Rawa, and Sara –set off on their very first road trip through Europe.
But this is no ordinary vacation, and neither are these women. Each of them came to Europe by a different route and had to make different choices in their lives until they met in Berlin and will revisit by their white van the transit points through which they first arrived on the continent.
Love, summer songs, the comedy that comes from trying to pitch a tent in the dark, Greek islands and even a little dancing – but also a distinctively European geography of pain points, with each stop marked by grief, trauma, regret and the dull roar of heartache.
Throughout their journey, the women share their stories and experiences, each bringing a unique perspective on displacement and migration. Along the way, they encounter challenges and obstacles that test their resolve and make them confront their pasts.
Despite the weighty themes, the film strikes a delicate balance by including moments of humor and joy that remind us of the resilience and strength of the human spirit. It is a journey to reflect on exile and home, on what it means to be a woman and a refugee, and on how far we have come as humans in terms of freedom of movement.
About the Filmmaker:
Afraa Batous graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Aleppo with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 2008. She directed her first performances at the theater in Aleppo. In 2013, she moved to Beirut and shot her first short documentary film. Two years later, she was invited to the Dubai International Film Festival at the official competition for her first feature documentary, “Skin,” and was awarded the Jury Prize at the Arab Film Festival in Malmö, Sweden. She also received the Hans and Lea Grundig Prize for Visual Arts. In 2022, Afraa Batous graduated with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Babelsberg Konrad Wolf Film University in Potsdam where she completed her second feature documentary "ALL ROADS LEAD TO MORE." The film had its world premiere at Dok-fest München May 2023 and TV premiere on ZDF das kleine fernsehspiel.
- Year2023
- Runtime78 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountryGermany
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorAfraa Batous
- ProducerAfraa Batous
We Syrians are haunted by the wind. The saying goes, “be ready, the past is coming.” And I say, “be ready, Syrian films are coming like the wind.” -Ahmad Alhaj
REVOLUTION OF THE WIND is a series of autobiographical Syrian fiction and documentary films exploring migration, grief, memory and history following the political instability of the Arab Spring. Within this program, the wind is understood to be the central metaphor that represents destiny and which links the films together. Whether through unleashing its wrath, or by leading in flight, the wind is an element that guides the lives of countless people in ways unseen. Primarily shot across North America and Europe, the films present deeply humanizing narratives of Syrian experiences, shedding light of the contradictions and irreconcilable realities of longing for a past that haunts the present.
REVOLUTION OF THE WIND is curated by Ahmad Alhaj and presented by ArteEast. This program is part of the legacy program Unpacking the ArteArchive, which preserves and presents 20 years of film and video programming by ArteEast. The program will be screened online on artearchive.org from April 11 - 21. The in-person screening takes place on Sunday, April 21 at IAIA, Institute of Arab and Islamic Art.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO MORE (2023)
In the summer of 2020, Afraa, the director, and her three counterparts – Rahaf, Rawa, and Sara –set off on their very first road trip through Europe.
But this is no ordinary vacation, and neither are these women. Each of them came to Europe by a different route and had to make different choices in their lives until they met in Berlin and will revisit by their white van the transit points through which they first arrived on the continent.
Love, summer songs, the comedy that comes from trying to pitch a tent in the dark, Greek islands and even a little dancing – but also a distinctively European geography of pain points, with each stop marked by grief, trauma, regret and the dull roar of heartache.
Throughout their journey, the women share their stories and experiences, each bringing a unique perspective on displacement and migration. Along the way, they encounter challenges and obstacles that test their resolve and make them confront their pasts.
Despite the weighty themes, the film strikes a delicate balance by including moments of humor and joy that remind us of the resilience and strength of the human spirit. It is a journey to reflect on exile and home, on what it means to be a woman and a refugee, and on how far we have come as humans in terms of freedom of movement.
About the Filmmaker:
Afraa Batous graduated from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities in Aleppo with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature in 2008. She directed her first performances at the theater in Aleppo. In 2013, she moved to Beirut and shot her first short documentary film. Two years later, she was invited to the Dubai International Film Festival at the official competition for her first feature documentary, “Skin,” and was awarded the Jury Prize at the Arab Film Festival in Malmö, Sweden. She also received the Hans and Lea Grundig Prize for Visual Arts. In 2022, Afraa Batous graduated with a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Babelsberg Konrad Wolf Film University in Potsdam where she completed her second feature documentary "ALL ROADS LEAD TO MORE." The film had its world premiere at Dok-fest München May 2023 and TV premiere on ZDF das kleine fernsehspiel.
- Year2023
- Runtime78 minutes
- LanguageArabic
- CountryGermany
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorAfraa Batous
- ProducerAfraa Batous