PAUL MOREIRA

FRANCE | 2017 | 52'

This is the story of the downfall of the democratic Syrian revolution, recounted by a small group of men. They speak plainly and honestly, without pretence, as if they were catching up with an old friend. Their story, which began with hope, has turned into tragedy.
In March 2016, Ali leaves to go and fight in Syria once more. But this time, the country has changed. ISIS is everywhere and they must battle with weapons borrowed from the Turkish army. Within 3 months, he is injured and must return to Turkey. Ali describes a country ravaged by groups of Jihadist teenagers and their suicide bombs, manipulated by ISIS. He brings back proof, disturbing photos of child soldiers and destruction. And he holds one particular entity responsible: ‘All of this is Europe’s fault, they have completely abandoned us…’

Paul Moreira is an investigative journalist and an independent reporter. After working for important agencies, TV and news broadcasters, such as CAPA, Canal Plus, Actuel, Politis, Libération-Magazine, in 2006 decided to set up his production agency, Premières Lignes. Thanks to this, he produces documentaries that brings him back to the field, in war zones, to tell the story closely, after many years in which he has played a leading role. Within a few years Premières Lignes has become one of the agencies most involved in the European investigative documentary. In 2014, accordingly to the initiative of Paul Moreira, FIGRA and Amnesty International-France, they launched the first 'impact award', rewarding a movie about the concrete effects it had on civil society.