Shortly after the Assad regime fell I visited the Sednayah prison. The very symbol of the repressive and brutal Assad regime Sednayah was a place of random arrests, brutal torture and killings.

I remember the dark isolation rooms underground, the few remains of people scattered on the ground and the noose hanging in a room while a brunch of prison suits where piled up at the side. The ECCO of the brutal terror made a profound and humbling impact. 

I was therefore very sceptical when I learned I was going to watch a film about Sednayah. How does one make a film about this brutal place? But my sceptisicm was soon layed to rest...

Through the eyes of five survivors returning to Sednayah after the fall of Assad we bear witnnes to their collective trauma, and listen to their testimonies of beatings, fear, torture and loss of loved ones.

The story is told uncomprimisngly - well thought, planned and has a beautiful and creative cinematic language while making use of gentle re-enactmens of situations in the prison with plenty of room for reflection.

The films director is one of the five returnees and he succesfully manages to tackle both the role as director as well as being present and dealing with the trauma himself. This is quite an achievement...

Ultimatly the film honors the thousands of victims of Sednayah and eventually turns the collective trauma into collective healing. 

Congratulation to Tawfik Sabouni for "The other side of the Sun."