The influence of the father is at the heart of Talal Derki’s latest film. Returning to his homeland of Syria, documentary filmmaker Derki encounters Abu Osama and his family. Masquerading as a jihadist sympathizer, Derki integrates himself into the household of Osama, an Al-Nusra Front member. Adored by his sons, Osama resides in a sphere of his own influence, with Derki acting as the unbiased watcher as Osama indoctrinates his young brood into the Al-Nusra mindset.
Osama and his sons’ lives are documented with an uncensored eye, making for an unprecedented journey behind the conflict and a glaring meditation on the familial bonds within a jihadist military household. At its core, Of Fathers and Sons is fearless, unflinching and unnerving. It provides an intimate look inside a family whose routine includes not only violence, bullying, and radicalization, but also love, loyalty and affection.
Director Biography
Talal Derki was born in Damascus, Syria in 1977 and now resides in Berlin, Germany. He has produced both short fiction and documentary film, his first-feature being Return to Homs, which premiered in 2013 to universal acclaim.
Sponsored by:
