You are here:
Resistance Is Life

Resistance Is Life

2017

Director

Apo W. Bazidi

Runtime

73 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Eight-year-old Evlin characterizes the resilience of Kobane's resistance against ISIS forces through her experience in a refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.9/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film does not explicitly center LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives. This absence reflects the specific socio-political environment of the refugee crisis depicted.

Gender Representation

Good

The narrative subverts traditional hierarchies by centering the agency of Evlin, a young female subject. Her resilience challenges masculine combat archetypes by focusing on endurance.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Excellent

The film provides exceptional representation of Middle Eastern identities. It avoids a Western gaze by presenting the Kurdish and Syrian experience through an authentic, non-Anglo-Saxon lens.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The film engages with anti-imperialist themes and the breakdown of stability. It prioritizes the lived reality of the oppressed over state-centric or nationalist narratives.

Disability Representation

Fair

The film touches upon psychological trauma and sensory deprivation inherent in refugee life. However, it lacks a dedicated focus on specific physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Strengths

  • Provides exceptional, authentic representation of Middle Eastern and Kurdish identities.
  • Avoids the Western gaze by centering the lived experiences of local subjects.
  • Subverts traditional war cinema by focusing on female agency and resilience.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
  • Does not provide a dedicated focus on specific physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

AI Analysis

Resistance Is Life succeeds as a piece of testimonial cinema by centering the Kurdish and Syrian experience. By utilizing the perspective of an eight-year-old girl, the film avoids traditional war tropes that favor military strategy, focusing instead on human resilience and displacement. The documentary excels in its refusal to adopt a Western gaze, providing deep agency to Middle Eastern subjects. This authentic approach allows the cultural and ethnic realities of the Kobane resistance to drive the emotional core of the story. While the film lacks specific focus on LGBTQ+ or physical disability narratives, it effectively captures the systemic trauma imposed by conflict. It serves as a nuanced study of identity against overwhelming geopolitical forces.

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.