The Other Side of the River
Original title: The Other Side of the River
Finnish title: Joen toisella puolen
A feature length documentary by Antonia Kilian
Length: 96 min
Genre: Documentary
Year of production: 2021
Production country: Germany / Finland
Script: Antonia Kilian, Guevara Namer, Arash Asadi
Editor: Arash Asadi
Original Music: Composed by Shkoon
Sound design and Re-recording: Stephan Konken
Colourist: Sally Shamas
Graphic Designer: Naji El Mir
Producers: Frank Müller, Antonia Kilian, Guevara Namer, Merja Ritola
Production Manager: Sevinaz Evdike (Komîna Film a Rojava)
Commissioning Editor: Erkko Lyytinen
In order to avoid a forced marriage, 19-year-old Hala finds shelter across the Euphrates (North-East Syria), at a Military Academy for women. While learning how to fight, she gets inspired by the promise of freeing every woman. After the Kurdish military takes over her city from ISIS, Hala returns as a police force entitled to protect other women in danger. Hala finds herself ready to fullfil her greatest dream: to free her younger sisters from her father’s hand.
The threat of a forced marriage and the brutal stories of female oppression lead more and more women to the other side of the river. They are trained in a strict military-style, taught that they have to protect themselves with weapons against the patriarchic society. But is there freedom to be found in a military system in the middle of war?
