The film is the directorial debut from Dan Gabriel, who worked in the region as a CIA counter-terrorism officer, and also produced the film.[2] The film focuses on the intersecting narratives of the various Iraqi ethnic groups that were involved in the operation: Sunni tribesman, Shiite militias, Christian fighters, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces. The eyewitness footage was captured over nine months by a camera crew embedded with various units of the Iraqi forces.[3] The film follows Iraqi journalist Ali Maula who is embedded with the militia, along with war widow Um Hanadi, and ISIS recruiter Nasser Issa.[4] Others that appear in footage of Maula's interviews include Captain Alaa Atah of the Iraqi Emergency Response Brigade and Sheikh "The Crocodile" Saleh.[5]
Release
Mosul premiered at the 2019 Cleveland International Film Festival. The official release date for digital distribution is May 14, 2019,[3][6] by Gravitas Ventures.[2] The film's original score was composed by Grammy-nominated British record producer Photek. The documentary is 86 minutes long.[7] The original score was written by Photek.[2]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 83% based on reviews from six critics.[3]
Film Inquiry wrote, "Gritty, powerful and honest, the film begs to be experienced, discussed, and remembered."[5] Michael Rechtshaffen of the Los Angeles Times said "while not exactly uncharted documentary territory, the Iraq conflict is thought-provokingly portrayed in 'Mosul'."[8] Laura DeMarco called the film "a gripping narrative of life during 'total warfare'."[9]
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