Documentary | Jobar Tunnels of Freedom

This documentary film tells the story of Jobar neighborhood in Damascus, one of the oldest neighborhoods and one of the most closely connected to the history of the city. It reviews the transformations the neighborhood went through across the centuries, leading up to the years of war and the widespread destruction they left behind. The documentary begins by presenting the historical significance of Jobar and the narratives, ruins, religious landmarks, and heritage sites associated with it, then moves to the events the neighborhood witnessed since 2011, how the demonstrations turned into armed confrontations, and the battles, shelling, displacement, and major changes in residents’ lives that followed.

The film explores the details of life inside the neighborhood during the years of war, presenting testimonies and scenes that document the reality faced by civilians, including siege, shortages of food and medicine, and daily hardship. It also reviews the tunnel network that was created during that period and its different uses, in addition to the impact of the battles on infrastructure, homes, markets, and historical landmarks, many of which were destroyed.

The documentary also sheds light on the history of Jobar before the war, the most important mosques, shrines, and heritage landmarks for which the neighborhood was known, and how it formed an important part of the social and cultural fabric of Damascus. It then reviews the scale of destruction that affected the area and the impact years of conflict left on both people and place, with testimonies reflecting residents’ memories and their hopes for the return of life and the reconstruction of the neighborhood.

This work presents a visual and narrative documentation of events connected to Jobar neighborhood. It aims to show their historical sequence and the changes the area witnessed, based on the materials and events presented in the film, so that the place remains alive in memory with its long history and human experiences that left a deep impact on the lives of its residents.