Wajd – Songs of Separation
+Syria in Focus
Sunday, 9/29
3:55 p.m.
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Wajd – Songs of Separation
وجد
Amar Chebib
Documentary Feature
87 mins | 2018
Syria
Arabic with English subtitles
Minnesota premiere
Sponsored by:
Inspired by the traditional music of Syria, director Amar Chebib traveled to Aleppo in 2010. Six months later, the revolution began. Moved by the harrowing experiences of the friends he made, Wajd – Songs of Separation shares the stories of three musicians turned refugees. Over five years, we become intimate with the struggles of Ibrahim, Abdulwahed, and Mohamed as they face their recent traumas. Forced to rebuild their lives in exile, they turn to their love of music to help them find meaning in the aftermath of destruction and atrocity. Intimate footage of their daily lives weaves together with bittersweet musical performances, traditional Sufi ceremonies, and poetic imagery of a pre-war Syria that no longer exists. What unfolds is a cinematic meditation on loss, yearning, and faith.
Festivals and Awards:
Volunteer Choice Award, DOXA Documentary Film Festival, Canada, 2018
Audience Award, Arabian Sights Film Festival, US, 2018
Portland Film Festival, US, 2018
Amar Chebib is a Syrian-Canadian filmmaker. Chebib began making videos in his youth while growing up between the Middle East and North America. He graduated from the Vancouver Film School in 2006 and has since directed various short films, music videos, and commercials around the world. Amar currently resides in Vancouver where he directs and produces short branded documentaries through his production company, Luminus Films. Wajd – Songs of Separation is his first feature length documentary.
