Excellent film. Terrifying expose. These are the things Americans should be involved in, altruistic not financial.

A close look at one of the most tragic and disgusting terrorist acts in modern history, and a holy war which still rages to this day, City Of Ghosts attempts to shed light on a part of the world being completely ignored by mainstream media. The RBSS group are an incredible brave bunch, reaching out for help in a climate which would see their heads blown off if the stretch too high above their shelter. The documentary flags somewhere towards the idle, when it takes a bizarre digress and gets almost completely off topic. The best parts are the hidden camera footage, because they expose the grim and brutal truth without editing or filter, cutting right to the cold hard fact that a once peaceful city has been brought to its knees by savagery and corrupted faith. Not always consistently engaging, but definitely a worthwhile watch, especially if you have any interest in the ongoing crisis.

With the advent of technology, ISIS now has the capability to produce slick, glossy recruitment videos with a Hollywood sheen - making these journalists' work even more important. This is a painful, brutal, devastating documentary that leaves one furious at the evil that men perpetuate, and highlights the absolute essential nature of a free press. Bewarned: There are beheaded bodies, crucifixions, point-blank executions, and, perhaps most disturbing of all, a toddler decked out in military garb, beaming proudly as she beheads a large stuffed animal in a murder lesson.

Fav doc of 2017. Another one snubbed. ???????

More people need to see this, horrific in parts but really eye opening

I understand Syria so much more now

City of Ghosts is genuinely heartbreaking, but incredibly inspiring. Constantly makes you think "Why aren't we doing more?" Excellent documentary. It's thrilling and challenging. Beautiful cinematography in a grim world. On Amazon Prime now.

Intense documentary focusing on the Caliphation of Raqqa by ISIS, and how a small group of Syrian journalists, launched a damaging, yet dangerous, propaganda campaign against the occupying forces. Filling the power vacuum left by the civil war, Daesh became an ensconced army, cutting off all access to the outside world, prohibiting media from reporting on the atrocities being carried out on the local populace. This documentary follows the small group of journalists, known collectively as 'Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently', as they attempt to educate the outside world on the barbaric acts being carried out on civilians in their home city, armed only with cell phones and laptops. Their power and influence becomes so intense, that ISIS focus all their efforts on finding the men, forcing them to flee to neighbouring countries to carry on their work. They soon find out that they aren't safe anywhere, as more and more family members and friends, are murdered by ISIS, in an attempt to draw them out. Where the documentary works best, is when it highlights the danger these young reporters face, no matter how many safe-houses they move between, all throughout Europe, as the reach of ISIS extends across Europe, spreading a fear of immigrants and refugees, ultimately inflaming radicalisation and inciting hatred. It also serves as a reminder on how powerful propaganda can be during war - Daesh stop at nothing in their attempts to find these men, giving them far more attention than any opposition soldier on the ground. An eye-opening watch for sure, especially for those with limited knowledge on the Syrian conflict.

"City of Ghosts" is a haunting documentary that reminds us all that we should take the freedom of the press seriously because in places like Syria, it is dangerous and tragic to have this right taken away. Thumbs way up. One of the best movies of the year.

I found this film so intense and brilliant! You're finally given insight into people who are not part of the regime but fighting against. I was heart struck and heartbroken many times during this film. We live in a world surrounded by the bad of isis and "muslims", I was brought to tears to see what a strong brotherhood they had for doing good and exposing the bad. Their story is so powerful during this documentary. We all have an obligation to watch this as a reminder of the way we quietly judge or live in fear of "them". This movie Is so important to remind us that we're all the same! Powerfully poignant!! Hard for the American mind/eye to see, which makes it even more relevant!

A bit self obsessed- Not much substance, with good editing this can be brought into 25-26 minutes. Far too long at 2 hours. The teenage boys graffiti incident happened in Deraa, not Raqqa...

Tense and informative, yet it tails off towards the second half.

The people who make up this documentary are admirable individuals with a harrowing story to tell, it just lacks cinematic quality.

Touching and powerful. Reminds me how important it is we practice that injustice to one of us is an injustice to all of us. Power to the people.

This movie should be seen by anyone who believes in blocking Syrian refugees from entering our country. These people are suffering unspeakable horrors at the hands if ISIS. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, their county will never be the same and these citizen journalists are doing what they can, at the risk of their own lives, to get the word out in the hope the rest of the world will realize what's really happening over there.

Triste documental que se basa en la vida de unos exiliados sirios y otros tantos que no han podido salir del infierno que se dedican a denunciar a los terroristas, bárbaros, locos y fanáticos de ISIS. Esa parte está muy bien, pero muy bien, el problema es que nunca ponen en contexto la historia, dan unas pistas ridículas al principio pero nunca hablan de la responsabilidad de EEUU o de Rusia o la UE en la creación del ISIS, o del problemilla eterno de Bashar al-Asad y quien lo mantiene en el poder, o de la injerencia de los judíos en todo este problema o alguna explicación de porque las Naciones Unidas no entran a ayudar. Solo muestra a estos locos terroristas del ISIS, ignorando la raíz del problema y lavándose las manos de toda la responsabilidad del primer mundo. Ademas, se abusa de la cantidad de imágenes atroces de ejecuciones con armas de fuego y decapitaciones, escenas que no tiene sentido mostrar y que solo logran agudizar el odio hacia Medio Oriente y a la final no denuncia nada serio, no ayuda en nada.

I see the cinema screen not just as the cinema screen itself, but as a smokescreen or sorts that allows the audience to simultaneously swallow difficult content with relative ease and see the onscreen performances as realer than the truly are. That's how documentaries appeal to me-their deviance from traditional filmmaking creates a different sense of realism. The bridge between documentary filmmaking and everyday documentation by way of smartphones has become more connective over the past decade, and with that, it seems logical that a film like City of Ghosts would both celebrate the agency of its central journalists. While it comes off as a bit overwhelmed by the gravity of its material with how it tends to run in circles in the second half, City of Ghosts is still impassioned, timely, and appropriately hopeful, and often with a sense of palpable camaraderie amongst its subjects. Looking at Syrian activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS for short) and its use of social media and online journalism to fight against ISIS, director/producer Matthew Heineman also focuses on the ensuing threats and executions by the latter against the former. Archival footage is balanced well with talking heads and material shot specifically for the film, and as mentioned before, there's a sense of intimacy at times that Heineman and his camera capture rather well-sometimes very well. It's a movie that often has the crutch of shocking imagery to galvanize its viewers into a sense of sympathy, but thankfully stays away from it most of the time for the first 50 minutes or so if its 93-minute runtime. Issues here arise in about the last 43 minutes, where Heineman seems to become a bit unsure of how to structure his insight. Although City of Ghosts never fully loses its sense of engagement-it would be hard to do so with such content-there seems to be more reliance on reference to recent events that hit closer to home for Western audiences. (Oh, let's just toss in news footage about the Pulse Nightclub shooting.) The film seems to have spent its ammunition of insight in the former half, causing the latter half to repeat points, themes, and emotional through lines. It's a bit like when you have a really good essay that's effective and draws attention, but the author has to make sure that it's within the range of the requested word count so their conclusion paragraph is twice is really a series of paragraphs, just so it doesn't also go over the word count. But just like such work, its heart is in the wrong place, and it doesn't try to guilt you into following the filmmaker's ideologies. Hitting a good balance between an outspoken viewpoint and objectivity, City of Ghosts isn't something to floor audiences, but it's definitely needed and realistic in its expectations and statements. 7.4/10, pretty good, B, above average, etc.

Very Powerful story that will open your eyes to a reality you think you know but you really don't.

Powerful, important and relevant. 'City of Ghosts' documents civilian activists fighting against ISIS in the worn-destroyed city of Raqqa, Syria. The group founded Raqqa is being slaughtered silently and the pictures and accounts are horrifying. Waging a ware with words and not weapons, the group is chronicled by acclaimed documentarian Matthew Heineman. This very well could be his second Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Final Score: 9.4/10

Extraordinary. You will not easily forget this film. Harrowing in places, heartbreaking in others, yet you may yet emerge with a sense of hope. For all those who think it's just another refugee-stroke-migrant tale of woe, think again! An astonishing testament to the courage of a small band who will not give in to extremism, even at great personal cost and loss. Cannot recommend it highly enough!