"It is an extraordinary film – insanely brave, but also intimate and human."
Guardian
"Extraordinary film... The bravery, fortitude and insight of the film-makers are admirable, that of their subjects even more so."
Telegraph
"Stunner of a new documentary... Heart-pounding, intimate... considered a contender for an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary... The intense, visceral footage is bracing enough, but the insight into the soldiers can be heart-scalding."
Globe and Mail
"Everyone should watch this. One of the most amazing war documentaries in years."
Byline Festival
"Extraordinarily intimate... An astonishing portrait of urban combat, and a gripping reflection of the universal, eternal truth of warfare - that soldiers fight first and foremost for the soldiers alongside them."
Guardian
In October 2016, an elite team of Iraqi Special Forces was tasked with leading the fight to defeat ISIS in Mosul. It was the beginning of a brutal battle of attrition that was to last almost nine months.
Filmed over the course of the whole campaign, Mosul follows the experiences of four young soldiers: Anmar, a college graduate seeking revenge after his father was the victim of a suicide attack; Hussein, a ruthless sniper and aspiring football player; Jamal, a wise-cracking sergeant; and Amjad, a young recruit excited to be on the frontline.
Full of hope and good intentions at the beginning of the campaign, the soldiers are forced to confront the reality of fighting an elusive and vicious enemy in a city full of trapped civilians who are themselves fearful and suspicious of the army. And with victory in sight, tragedy strikes. When ISIS eventually capitulates, much of the city is destroyed, and the surviving soldiers are left haunted by what they have seen and done.
Winner of The Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Documentary at the Overseas Press Club Awards
Winner of an Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography
Winner of DuPont Gold Baton
Winner of Grand Jury Prize at the Golden Nymphs
Winner of the Venice TV Award for Documentary
Winner of Best Documentary at the Broadcast Awards
Winner of the Frontline Club Award
Nominated for a BAFTA Craft Award in the Cinematography category
Nominated for Television Documentary at the One World Media Awards
Nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Short Documentary
Nominated for a Grierson Award - Best Current Affairs Documentary
Nominated at the AIBs - International Affairs Documentary
Nominated at the International Documentary Association Awards
Filmed and Directed by Olivier Sarbil
Co-Directed and Produced by James Jones
Produced by Raney Aronson-Rath & Dan Edge
Edited by Ella Newton
Production Managed by Philippa Lacey
Broadcast on PBS Frontline in October 2017
Broadcast on Channel 4 in November 2017