Syrian Filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab Returns Home After Assad's Fall

One year ago, the oppressive rule of the Assad family came to an end as Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia amidst an insurgent takeover. This marked a significant turning point in Syria's tumultuous history, which has been marred by over a decade of conflict and atrocities committed against its people. Waad Al-Kateab, an Oscar-nominated documentarian and activist, provides a personal account of her return to Syria, a journey filled with mixed emotions of hope, grief, and fear.

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Waad Al-Kateab, who had been displaced for twelve years, returned to Syria with her husband, Dr. Hamza Al-Kateab, and their daughter, Sama. The couple had previously fled Aleppo, where Hamza managed the last remaining hospital during the siege. As they traveled back, they encountered a landscape ravaged by war, with villages destroyed and unexploded ordnance littering the ground. Waad reflected on the trauma of their past, recalling how she had hidden footage of war crimes while escaping the regime's brutality.

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Upon arriving in Aleppo, Waad expressed a sense of reclaiming what the regime had attempted to erase: their voice, home, and existence. The couple visited significant locations from their past, including the hospital where Hamza worked and the house where they were married. Despite the devastation, Waad found solace in the resilience of nature, noting that flowers were beginning to grow again in her garden. This return was not just a physical journey but also an emotional one, as they mourned the loss of friends and family while celebrating their reunion with surviving relatives.

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While Waad's return signifies a moment of hope, she acknowledged the uncertainty that still looms over Syria. The country remains exhausted and wounded, yet it continues to breathe and dream of a better future. For the first time in years, Waad felt she could envision a future in her homeland, a stark contrast to the fear and oppression that had defined her life under Assad's regime.

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• “Returning now feels like reclaiming something the regime tried to take from us, our voice, our home, our right to exist.” — Waad Al-Kateab, Filmmaker

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• “Syria is exhausted, wounded, but it's still breathing, still dreaming.” — Waad Al-Kateab, Filmmaker

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Waad Al-Kateab's return to Syria encapsulates a pivotal moment in the nation's history, reflecting both the scars of a brutal past and the flickers of hope for a future free from oppression. As the country begins to heal, the stories of those like Waad serve as a testament to resilience and the enduring spirit of the Syrian people.

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