National Geographic has announced they will continue to expand their documentary film slate with the addition of The Cave. The film focuses on secret underground hospital in Syria and the brave people who run it.
Ghouta, Syria – Dr. Amani in the underground tunnels. (Photo credit: National Geographic)
What’s happening:
- National Geographic is expanding its feature documentary slate the new film, The Cave.
- The Cave is a powerful new film about a hidden secret underground hospital in Syria and the unprecedented female-led team of civilians and medical professionals who are risking their lives to provide medical care to the besieged local population.
- The announcement comes as the Museum of the Moving Image prepares to honor National Geographic for its accomplishments over the past few years, including the success of its newly formed documentary film unit for Free Solo.
- The Cave is slated for a fall 2019 release.
About the The Cave:
- The film follows 30-year-old Dr. Amani, an aspiring pediatrician forced to end her studies and medical training due to the devastating war in Syria, as she becomes the appointed leader of a team of 130 medical practitioners in the secret hospital serving the 400,000 civilians of the besieged city of Al Ghouta from 2012 to 2018.
- Due to the nonstop onslaught of conventional and chemical warfare, brutalized and displaced victims constantly flood the subterranean haven through secret entrances and an intricate network of tunnels.
- Despite the limited supply of medical resources, Dr. Amani and her team work tirelessly to restore health and hope.
Creative team for The Cave:
- Director:
- Feras Fayyad (Last Man in Aleppo)
- Producers:
- Kirstine Barfod (Venus)
- Sigrid Dyekjær (Something Better to Come)
- Executive producers:
- Eva Mulvad (A Modern Man)
- Pernille Rose Grønkjær (The Monastery)
- Mikala Krogh (The Newsroom – Off the Record)
What they’re saying:
- Feras Fayyad: “While I was detained by the Syrian regime for a critical film I made, I witnessed the suppression and torturing of women, an inhuman shameless pride of cruelty, in prison. Not only because they were prisoners but because they were women. I also observed one of the most atrocious war crimes in modern history when the Syrian regime used chemical weapons to attack Al Ghouta in 2013. These experiences were shockingly frightening and unforgettable, but even worse, the rest of the world looked on silently. I knew I had to challenge the inaction and I felt morally responsible to expose the effects of the war crimes. My vision for The Cave was to paint a human picture of the Syrian War through the eyes of these unsuspecting female heroes, and for the film to be a global call to action for response to this humanitarian crisis.”
- Dr. Amani: “This is an important story for women today and for the coming generations. It is about women who want independence and change in life. It is my hope that the more people see it, the closer we are to ending the war and achieving justice. Something has to change.”
- Kirstine Barfod and Sigrid Dyekjær: “National Geographic Documentary Films, a brand with such a pristine reputation for powerful storytelling, has inspired us, and we are thrilled to be working together. With their support, we too hope to bring as much attention as possible to the crisis in Syria and shed a light on the gender inequality in the region through Dr. Amani’s story.”
- National Geographic Documentary Films’ Carolyn Bernstein: “Dr. Amani is a true hero. We are honored to share her story with the world and to ensure that her team’s unwavering dedication and commitment in the most horrendous of circumstances is witnessed by the largest global audience possible.”
More from National Geographic:
- In recent months, National Geographic has announced they’d greenlit:
- Rebuilding Paradise from director Ron Howard
- The Untitled Thai Cave Rescue Project (wt) from director Kevin Macdonald
- This July aerospace fans can join National Geographic channel as they celebrate “Space Week.” A series of special programing will kick off with the debut of the documentary, Apollo: Missions to the Moon.