Dugma: The Button

Many people claim to be experts on Islam and Muslim society. However, I believe that expanding one's horizons is never harmful. This documentary provides firsthand insight into the current form of jihadism and Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East. If Western liberals want to see the uprising against the Assad regime as a classic rebellion against oppression, the message of Jabhat al-Nusra is clear. The Syrian regime has betrayed Islamic teachings and morality, becoming a legitimate target of the uprising. It is necessary to overthrow the secular regime and replace it with a state based on Sharia law. The camera captures the confessions of two members of a suicide squad without any visible intervention from the director, and European viewers will likely be affected by their sincerity. The level of identification with the members of the radical group will probably be close to zero, but I would not hesitate to include this documentary among the few sources that interested individuals could draw upon to form an understanding of the current Arab world. It could be accompanied by, for example, the graphic novel "The Arab of the Future" by Riad Sattouf. It is important to realize that while filming the members of the group does represent an extreme, their fatalism, zeal, and the environment in which they operate are worth serious contemplation. Overall impression: 90%. (16.12.2018)