Throughout much of history, depending on where you live, peace is hard to find. For those of us who have been fortunate enough to live outside of warzones, it can feel foreign and hard to even imagine how life continues with any kind of normality. How does one learn? How does one connect with their family? How do you fall in love? As the world seemingly begins to fracture and fall apart all around us, these questions could not be more timely. In Birds of War, Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak take us backwards on their own journey. Habak, if not by name, by image, may be known to people as his rescue of a child during an explosive attack went viral around the world in 2017.
But that seminal moment is not the focus of the documentary. After years of journalists attempting to garner his permission for the story of that day, it is strangely fitting that he and his wife, Janay, end up telling their own story. It is particularly appropriate as they are both journalists, though from completely different poles. The film introduces the pair separately, only connected through text and voice messages, calling each other “Bird” as a term of endearment. Habak begins in Aleppo, in his home country of Syria, fighting to both survive and archive the violence of the regime against its people. Boulos, on the other hand, took a much more standard route, with a journalism degree in her country of Lebanon, before leaving for London so she would not be used as a mouthpiece of her own government.
Through anonymous contacts at the BBC, the two “meet” via unlisted phone numbers. He provides her with recordings that she can report on, including individuals growing vegetables on rooftops and disturbing coverage from the only remaining hospital in Aleppo. In these moments, we hear heartwrenching narration from Habak wondering why he is still alive, except when he is filming these important moments. But luckily, that is not the central thesis of the film. Instead, it is the power of connection: family, friends, and love. The documentary moves through their relationship slowly, forcing us to ache for the day that they must come together. The common ways in which they communicate fly in the face of their highly dramatic lives. Smoking a hookah, petting a cat, sending selfies. Just simple, harmless flirting in the midst of so much death and trauma. It makes things normal for just a moment. And that isn’t even accounting for the fact that he is a Syrian Muslim and she a Lebanese Christian. Although this does become an issue, it all pales in comparison to everything that they deal with on a daily basis.
The strength of Habak’s convictions shines through strongly, as he states simply that he would not even consider migration, even after Aleppo is evacuated and he returns to his home city. Home is home, especially for a single person. But this all changes for two reasons after the viral photo is taken of him saving a child’s life. This is the moment when we understand the strangeness of his situation. He details his confusion, after all, he has cried before, he has saved a child before, he has bled before. In a moment of pure tenderness that is difficult to build in a narrative feature, she tells him that they want him for a story. She also admits her own temptation to build a story around him, but that he is more than that to her. We do not need effusive language to know that these two have a deep and abiding love for one another. Following this conversation, he has become known to Islamists and is in danger. Due to this situation, he makes the decision to cross the border to Turkey, where our two birds can finally meet in person.
Despite some problems that arise later for the two, there is a palpable sense of relief and overflowing emotion when they are finally in the same place. As those of us who have fallen in love know, this changes everything. There are still things to fight for in their home countries. But there is something new. It is easy to take risks before that person is in your life on a daily basis. Frankly, it changes things when you hold your partner in your arms. They may watch news of the war while packing to move in together, but they are a beautiful, normal, healthy couple. As the film wraps up, we crave for more time with Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak. But the literal highs of the two parasailing together will live deep in our memories.
Birds of War may seem like an unapproachable, highly dramatic story that will make it difficult to connect, given our very different lives. However, there is enough eerie similarity between their world and ours to easily lock in with their story. More importantly, their love story, despite the dramatics of their lives, is perfectly normal. It becomes easy to put ourselves in their shoes. It helps us realize that literally anything is possible. We, as humans, have a stunning ability to love, live, and do the right thing, but we need our people to accomplish any of this. Boulos and Habak give us a gorgeous reminder of the importance we hold to one another. It will force your heart to melt and remember the significance of our relationships, above all. There is no better reminder possible of the simple power of love and hope than Birds of War.
Birds of War had its World Premiere in the World Cinema Documentary Competition section of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Directors: Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak
Rated: NR
Runtime: 85m
Birds of War may seem like an unapproachable, highly dramatic story that will make it difficult to connect, given our very different lives. However, there is enough eerie similarity between their world and ours to easily lock in with their story.
Dave is a lifelong film fan who really got his start in the independent film heyday of the 90’s. Since then, he has tried to branch out into arthouse, international, and avant garde film. Despite that, he still enjoys a good romcom or action movie. His goal is to always expand his horizons, through writing and watching new movies.
