You are here:
City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts

2017

R

Director

Matthew Heineman

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

With unprecedented access, this documentary follows the extraordinary journey of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently”—a group of anonymous citizen journalists who banded together after their homeland was overtaken by ISIS—as they risk their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.4/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film focuses on the survival and journalistic missions of activists under ISIS occupation. It does not center non-cisnormative or LGBTQ+ identities as primary narrative drivers. No derogatory depictions are present.

Gender Representation

Fair

Women are portrayed as active participants in the social and humanitarian fabric rather than mere victims. The film remains largely observational regarding the subversion of specific gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The documentary offers an exceptional portrayal of non-Western agency by centering Syrian citizen journalists. It disrupts traditional Western-centric war lenses by prioritizing the perspectives of those directly impacted by violence.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film provides a profound critique of Western geopolitical structures and the breakdown of traditional institutions. It illustrates the impossible ethical choices forced upon individuals by systemic collapse.

Disability Representation

Fair

Physical and psychological trauma are documented with dignity as a grim reality of war. While no primary character arc is defined by disability, the film avoids 'inspiration porn.'

Strengths

  • Exceptional portrayal of non-Western agency and local perspectives.
  • Disrupts Western-centric war documentary tropes by centering Syrian voices.
  • Presents a complex, non-binary view of morality and agency.
  • Portrays women as active participants in a collapsing society.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit focus on LGBTQ+ or non-cisnormative identities.
  • Limited exploration of specific gender-based power deconstructions.
  • Does not feature character arcs centered on specific disabilities.

AI Analysis

City of Ghosts succeeds by shifting the documentary gaze from the Western observer to the local observed. By centering the Syrian citizen journalists, the film empowers marginalized voices and challenges the hegemony of traditional war media. The narrative excels in its portrayal of agency and non-Western perspectives, reclaiming the story for those living through the occupation. It moves beyond simple victimhood to show complex human responses to systemic collapse. However, the film lacks specific focus on identity-based politics, such as LGBTQ+ narratives or dedicated disability arcs. While it captures the broad human experience, it does not deeply explore specific subversions of gender or identity-specific struggles.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.