A Flood In Baath Country

This documentary is director Amiralay's criticism of the devastating effect of 35 years of rigid Baath party rule on Syrian society. The Syrian made documentary critical of the Damascus regime has been applauded on its first showing in Lebanon- a country still dominated by its powerful neighbor- but attacted elsewhere in the Arab world as part of a Zionist plot, a plot against Arab nationalism. The camera moves slowly from school students to teachers and government officials, with everyone reciting the exact same praises for the president and slogans glorifying the Baath party. Despite the rigid hold of the government, the fact that filmmakers can still make such film in Syria, is an indication of change.