The documentary Birds of War tells the true story of a long-distance romance between a BBC correspondent in London and a photojournalist on the ground in Syria, capturing the charm and humanity of their relationship despite the horrors of war. Politics takes a back seat to matters of the heart in this film, which focuses on romantic love blossoming amid the ruins of conflict.
Love Across the Frontlines
Janay Boulos, a Lebanese journalist working for the BBC Arabic service, first fell in love from afar in 2016 with Syrian activist and photojournalist Abd Alkader Habak. While the Assad regime was in power, Habak risked his life to supply Boulos with dramatic footage from his hometown of Idlib and later from Aleppo. He gained international attention in 2017 when he was photographed carrying an injured child to safety.
The documentary interweaves Habak's harrowing images with Boulos's smartphone footage of her daily life in London, including scenes of her riding the lifts at BBC Broadcasting House, as well as home videos from her childhood in the Lebanese coastal town of Byblos. Their tender text messages and voice notes reveal a growing bond, with the couple affectionately calling each other “bird” and “little bird.”
Escape and New Life
Eventually, Habak managed to escape Syria and reached Turkey. The couple married and settled in London, where they participated in pro-Palestinian marches. Habak expressed mixed emotions about watching Syria’s final liberation on television, while Boulos returned to visit her parents in Lebanon, where Israel’s activities were stoically condemned, though Hezbollah was not mentioned.
The film does contain some contrived elements: when Boulos and Habak are shown separately, the shots are clearly set up by the subjects themselves. Later, when they embrace and speak emotionally and spontaneously, the camera appears to have been pre-positioned on a tripod. The moments when they reveal their marriage to their respective parents are not captured. Nonetheless, the story remains genuine, full of humanity and charm.
Birds of War is in cinemas from 3 July.
