‘The Oriental Gate:’ the movie tale of Syrian families divided on civil war

Three weeks away from marking the second anniversary of the Syrian revolution, the Egyptian journalists syndicate releases the first movie that paints the political division inside the Syrian home during the revolution.

Egyptian movie director Ahmad Attef said producing the movie was crucial to portray what is taking place in the war-torn Syria as no movie has portrayed the suffring of exiled Syrian citizens.

“The Syrian revolution is the bride of all revolutions in the Arab region. It is a revolution with the highest cost Syrian pay daily and their stories need to be told,” Attef said in a press conference.

The movie caries the name “Bab Sharqi,” (Oriental Gate) one of the most important seven gates to the Syrian capital Damascus. Attef said this gate was a place that adopted various faiths and religions.

The movie reflects the destructions inside Syrian families over political disagreements, focusing on the role of Shabeeh, the regime’s thugs. In the movie, two brothers stand at opposite angles of the Syrian revolution, leading to one of the characters who considers himself Shabeeh to kill his brother for supporting the Free Syrian Army and opposition.

“Playing the role of the Shabeeh and including it in the film only portrays the reality of the Syrian society, especially during the revolution time,” said Syrian activist and movie actor Farhan Matar who played the role of a Syrian political official.

“This role of the Shabeeh is only a reflection of what’s happening in Syria,” he added.

The movie is considered to be the first of its kind to be produced about the Syrian revolution.

“It is extremely important to have more documentary movies about Syria, because what is taking place in this country is the first of its kind in the Arab world,” a Syrian journalist who asked to be unnamed told Al Arabiya English.

“The number of the Syrian war casualties will soon enter the Guinness book of world records,” the journalist added.