Thomas Vroege

One morning in August 2012, renowned Syrian photographer Issa Touma saw young men lugging sandbags into his street. It turned out to be the start of the Syrian uprising in the city of Aleppo. Touma grabbed his camera and spent nine days holed up in his apartment, recording what was happening outside. The result? An unprecedented glimpse into a war that has been raging for three years now.

Almost 50 years ago, on 6 May 1970, Feijenoord (now Feyenoord) won the European Cup in Milan. The cup was brought back to Rotterdam and the city exploded. A pavilion was built on the Coolsingel where football fans could have their photo taken with the cup. The makers of this documentary studied archives and conducted countless telephone interviews with ordinary Rotterdammers who witnessed this historic moment. How did it feel to win such a prestigious cup? And what are the stories from Milan, the Coolsingel, Stadhuisplein and the stadium in Rotterdam-Zuid?

Syrian photographer Issa Touma regularly travels from Europe to his city of birth, Aleppo. He visits family, friends and students who still live there, primarily viewing it as his task to record the art of survival during one of the biggest human dramas of our time.

The Syrian conflict in Aleppo is complex. How to represent it truthfully to the world? A documentary.

One morning in August 2012, renowned Syrian photographer Issa Touma saw young men lugging sandbags into his street. It turned out to be the start of the Syrian uprising in the city of Aleppo. Touma grabbed his camera and spent nine days holed up in his apartment, recording what was happening outside. The result? An unprecedented glimpse into a war that has been raging for three years now.

Almost 50 years ago, on 6 May 1970, Feijenoord (now Feyenoord) won the European Cup in Milan. The cup was brought back to Rotterdam and the city exploded. A pavilion was built on the Coolsingel where football fans could have their photo taken with the cup. The makers of this documentary studied archives and conducted countless telephone interviews with ordinary Rotterdammers who witnessed this historic moment. How did it feel to win such a prestigious cup? And what are the stories from Milan, the Coolsingel, Stadhuisplein and the stadium in Rotterdam-Zuid?

Syrian photographer Issa Touma regularly travels from Europe to his city of birth, Aleppo. He visits family, friends and students who still live there, primarily viewing it as his task to record the art of survival during one of the biggest human dramas of our time.

Syrian photographer Issa Touma regularly travels from Europe to his city of birth, Aleppo. He visits family, friends and students who still live there, primarily viewing it as his task to record the art of survival during one of the biggest human dramas of our time.

The Syrian conflict in Aleppo is complex. How to represent it truthfully to the world? A documentary.

The Syrian conflict in Aleppo is complex. How to represent it truthfully to the world? A documentary.