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Deep Dive: Our War (2016)

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Our War
Our War is a documentary that follows the experiences of three foreign volunteers—Joshua Bell, Karim Franceschi, and Rafael Kardari—who joined the People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria to combat ISIS. The film combines battlefield footage with personal narratives, providing insight into the motivations and psychological effects of their decisions to fight. It also includes scenes from their home countries, offering a contrast between their lives in the war zone and their civilian lives in the United States, Italy, and Sweden. Directed by Bruno Chiaravalloti, Claudio Jampaglia, and Benedetta Argentieri, the film runs for 69 minutes and premiered out of competition at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival. The documentary is produced in Italy and features dialogues in English, Italian, and Kurdish, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the volunteers and the international nature of the conflict.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Joshua Bell, a former U.S. Marine fighting ISIS.
  • •See Karim Franceschi, an Italian anti-capitalist activist in action.
  • •Follow Rafael Kardari, a Swedish bodyguard on the front lines.

Did You Know

•The film features three main volunteers: Joshua Bell, Karim Franceschi, and Rafael Kardari.
•Our War premiered at the 73rd Venice International Film Festival in 2016.
•The documentary is 69 minutes long and includes footage from the battlefield.
•It includes scenes from the volunteers' home countries: the United States, Italy, and Sweden.

Perfect For

Kurdish-led militiasForeign volunteersMiddle Eastern conflicts