Watch City of Ghosts

City of Ghosts is a 2017 documentary directed by Matthew Heineman that follows the journey of a group of citizen journalists from the city of Raqqa, Syria, who risk their lives to expose the atrocities committed by ISIS in their home city. The film gives an incredibly powerful and moving insight into the lives of these brave individuals who have dedicated themselves to telling the world about what is happening in Syria and the terrible price they have paid for it.

The main focus of the film is the work of a group of citizen journalists known as "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently" (RBSS). This group of young men had been observing and documenting the brutal actions of ISIS since the militants took control of their city in 2014. They quickly realized that mainstream media was not covering the atrocities that were taking place in their city and took it upon themselves to document everything, from public executions and beheadings to bombings and destruction of historic landmarks.

The documentary starts with the early days of RBSS, where the members, who live in hiding in Turkey, share their stories of how they became citizen journalists and how they work to get their message out to the world. The filmmakers use real footage shot by the RBSS members to create a gut-wrenching and emotional portrait of life under ISIS. The footage is at times brutal and difficult to watch, but it is important to see in order to understand the courage and dedication it takes to be a citizen journalist in Raqqa.

As the documentary progresses, the filmmakers follow the RBSS members as they move from Turkey to Europe and the United States, where they continue their mission to expose ISIS. The film is particularly poignant when it shows how each individual is affected by their work, with many of them suffering from PTSD and the trauma of being constantly hunted by ISIS militants. It is clear from the footage that these are young men who have had to grow up quickly and who have had to deal with unimaginable horrors.

One of the most powerful messages of the film is how these individuals use social media to disseminate their message to the world. They use Twitter and other social media platforms to get their message out and to engage with reporters and other activists around the world. Despite the constant danger they are in, they are dedicated to their cause and will stop at nothing to get the world to pay attention to what is happening in Syria.

City of Ghosts is a powerful and moving documentary that shines a light on the devastating effects of war on individuals and communities. It is an important reminder of the power of citizen journalism and the importance of individuals standing up to injustice. The film is not an easy watch, but it is an essential one, particularly in a time where the world seems to be turning a blind eye to the humanitarian catastrophe in Syria.

Overall, City of Ghosts is an incredibly powerful and moving documentary that is not to be missed. It is a testament to the bravery and dedication of those who are fighting for a better future in Syria and to those who have sacrificed everything to get their message out to the world. This film is a must-see for anyone who is interested in the human cost of war and the role that citizen journalism can play in giving voice to the voiceless.

City of Ghosts is a 2017 war movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 86.