Return to Homs
An immersive Syrian documentary follows two young men in Homs as peaceful dreams of freedom collide with repression, detention, and war.
Overview
A gripping look at the human spirit amidst the chaos of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- visceral
- urgent
- serious documentary viewing
- political cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a visceral, immersive, and remarkably intimate piece of frontline Syrian civil-war reportage.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The camera accompanies Basset and Ossama through demonstrations, ruined neighborhoods, detention, and the escalating Syrian conflict over three years.
Long, direct passages through bombed-out buildings and frontline spaces place viewers alongside the protagonists in Homs.
Basset moves from football goalkeeper and demonstration leader to singer, fighter, and militia commander as repression intensifies.
The film follows two young men from hopes of freedom through the changing demands and consequences of war.
Films like Return to Homs, and why
For Sama
immersive documentary realism, frontline conflict reporting, and intimate human rights focus
The Cave
observational war documentary filmmaking centered on civilians enduring sustained urban violence
Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom
unflinching nonfiction portrait of political violence and personal transformation
The Square
direct-action documentary perspective on youth, revolution, and state repression
Movie Details
- Director
- Talal Derki
- Release Date
- 2013-11-20
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (73)
Cast
- abdolbaseit al sarut
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Return to Homs about?
- An immersive Syrian documentary follows two young men in Homs as peaceful dreams of freedom collide with repression, detention, and war.
- What is Return to Homs like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Return to Homs as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Return to Homs violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Return to Homs as graphic.
- What did critics think of Return to Homs?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a visceral, immersive, and remarkably intimate piece of frontline Syrian civil-war reportage.
- Which films are like Return to Homs?
- Films with a similar feel include For Sama, The Cave, Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom, and The Square.
- How long is Return to Homs?
- Return to Homs runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Return to Homs?
- In United States, Return to Homs is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
