BY KAREN BOSSICK
When 26-year-old Waad al-Kateab and her husband chose to stay in Aleppo during the middle of a five-year civil war, she decided to create a film to explain to her daughter Sama why they decided to stay despite unthinkable danger.
Her film, “For Sama,” captures stories of loss, laughter and survival as she wrestles with whether to flee to protect her daughter’s life or stay to carry on the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed much.
It went on to win multiple awards, including an Emmy, Best Documentary at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival, a BAFTA and the British Independent Film Award for Best Documentary in 2019.
Sun Valley Museum of Art is showing the film at 4 and 7 p.m. today—Thursday, Jan. 21—as part of its Winter 2021 Film Screenings. This year’s screenings highlight women who have lived their lives in ways that push the boundaries of societally acceptable behavior for women, creating lasting change in their communities and beyond.
The film will be shown at the Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum. Tickets will be sold in advance and the number limited to ensure proper distancing because of COVID-19.
Tickets are $10 for SVMoA members and $12 for nonmembers, available at www.svmoa.org or at 208-726-9491.