The Phantom Pain of Rojava

In 2015, a militia of Kurdish women managed to successfully defend the northern Syrian city of Kobani on the Turkish border from ISIS forces. At the time, they had broad international support. Ten years later, the women have gone underground in Rojava to escape the deadly drone attacks of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkish government, and have been largely forgotten by the world. Filmmaker Maryam Ebrahimi tracked down the heroines in hidden, self-administered housing for veterans. Rojda was blinded in the flighting; Fadakhar lost both legs, and Zarin suffered a gunshot wound to the head and has trouble speaking. But they all retain the spirit of resistance and do what they can to contribute. They are held together by Sorkhin, also a veteran. Despite all the loss and constant threat, she has made this house of wounded warriors a warm and dignified place. The director develops a close relationship to Sorkhin, making the film an impressive and very personal testimonial to life amid war.