User reviews

This documentary is about the Syrian Civil Defense or "The White Helmets" as the film makers decided to name them. It focuses on the personal side of the characters trying to make the viewer perceive these people as human beings rather than numbers you hear on the news. While the film succeeds at the emotional part, it fails to offer much else. There were many repetitive scenes for a 40 min documentary, and the focus on some characters went overboard sometimes.

Now, I wrote the previous part of my review trying to be as objective as possible. The next part, I will write as a Syrian who isn't on any of the many sides of the Syrian war. What made me write this review, my first on IMDb, is that I noticed many negative reviews seeming to push a propaganda opposite to the propaganda they were claiming this film is about. Comments I have high confidence they come from Syrian Assad supporters so I thought I would try to restore the balance.

While the film clearly favors the side of the WHs, their side itself is about "saving lives" regardless of any other factors so what is there to disagree with? Some commentators said the WHs are terrorists/islamists/etc and I find that really insulting as I don't myself live in a war zone in Syria, I never heard anyone questioning or criticizing WHs. Also, common sense tells me these people don't have to lie about their intentions in a country where there are countless factions fighting. Everyone is free to have their own opinion, but when most of the 1-star reviews come from 1 review accounts I find it fishy - one reviewer stating "England" as his country starts with "Shame on the western-world", a prevalent statement in the Al-Assad regime media.

Syria is a country where many evils fight. You have Al-Assad, factions affiliated with Al-Qaeda, and finally ISIS!! Each side will try to convince you with their story, like Assad fan base in many of the comments I mentioned, but the real story in Syria is about many villains fighting over the pie of things like power/oil/location and poor people suffering in the crossfire. The only light one can find in this tragedy is people like the ones in this movie whose mandate is save lives. Thank you White Helmets!

We live in a time, where conspiracy theories are the new flavor of the month/year. While this short documentary (still 40 minutes long) won an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary, there is a lot of controversy. Well while watching the documentary you may not think about it, but there have been reports that the White Helmets have been paid for by the "West" and are helping terrorists.

Hard to believe to tell you the truth, even though I will admit that some of the scenes filmed did look a bit staged. Something that actually happened with one of the videos uploaded on the internet and has been exposed. But the bombings must be real (I guess you could only argue if they are in cahoots with those who are responsible for the bombings.

If you can actually have a clear mind while watching this, then you will be able to see something remarkable though. It's a grand story of survival, of humanity and of help in general, while risking your own life. And it's up to you to decide whom you want to believe ...

Watch this. It's a shocking, horrifying, saddening film, but also one that gives you hope in humanity and makes you realize how lucky we are to live in peace. It tells you that in the darkest places in this world there is a light of good and selfishness, that true heroes do exist. I can only wish to be half as good an human being as the heroes portrait in this documentary. A must watch film, even if its a difficult one to stomach. For future generations to judge us on.

As a 1-star comment around here suggested, I did my homework on the White Helmets. Fortunately, claims that WH are terrorists seem to be unfounded and highly motivated by political reasons. Sources like Snopes - a fact-checking website, BBC, The Guardian and SBS, all agree that the accusations held against the WH are pure propaganda as there is no evidence whatsoever behind them.

This documentary, although a little "Hollywood", is a great depiction of those heroic people, risking their lives to save civilians, no matter what side they're on. It's a little short and some scenes might be staged, but in my opinion the documentary and the work of these men is truly inspirational and restores a little my hope in humanity. They deserve all the praise!

Documentary about real heroes. Everybody knows the situation in the middle east, but not many of us can connect in deep emotions with them, because we only see numbers. This documentary shows brave men fighting for the life of other people in their country without any weapons. I think that in this noise around refugees it's really hard to hear the voice of people who actually stay there. Thanks to this documentary You can somehow regain confidence in the fact that there are good people fighting for the right cause, but at the same time wonder why is this all happening and how come this kind of situations just pass through us on a daily basis. The only reason I gave a 9/10 is because it could be longer, but at the same time it's long enough. It's my first ever review on IMDb, because my feelings after watching this just couldn't let me just leave it as it is. I will definitely recommend this to everybody I'll have a chance to.

'THE WHITE HELMETS': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

The 2017 Oscar winner for Best Documentary Short Film is this heartbreaking account of the brave Syrian Civil Defense rescue workers (know as the White Helmets). As daily airstrikes kill civilians every day in Syria (over 400,000 in fives years, while millions of others have fled their homes), these daring volunteer workers heroically search for survivors, as they're often killed themselves. The film details their very passionate personal stories. The White Helmets are undoubtedly as brave, and selfless, as anyone could possibly claim to be (now, or throughout history). So the film is all at once very tragic, and inspiring. It runs just 41 minutes long, but it tells a very powerful story in that time. Orlando von Einsiedel directed the British short film, and it stars Khalid Farah, Mohammed Farah, Abu Omar and many others. I highly recommend it, the short definitely deserves all it's praise! You can see it on Netflix right now, which also released it.

Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9ZNHDah5M

At one point in this film, a character looks up at the sky, expecting the inevitable sound of approaching bombs. It's a really poignant moment and encapsulates why this is such an important film to watch. For most of us, the reality is peace - for them, daily, it's war and incessant bombing. The White Helmets, the Syrian heroes who go in to save civilians, are given real heart in this short documentary. But their life of heroics is brutally brought to life by the footage they film themselves in Aleppo. It clearly shows us that what the White Helmets do is not just heroic but also necessary. A really important film to see for all those who are sick of the politics.

This documentary film tells the story of a group of civilians in Syria, who volunteer for a group called The White Helmets to save lives of people affected by the civil war.

The film contains footage of air raids and rescue. There is a scene where bombs are seen dropping from a plane, trailing them to the ground and then we see buildings explode. This scene just makes me speechless. The miracle baby scene makes me very touched. I hope more people will take part in humanitarian missions. If the war would stop, that would be even better.

Incredibly moving film about real heroes; the Syrian Civil Defense.

These guys are a bunch of real people, former teachers, tailors, shop workers and so on who risk everything everyday to save the lives of strangers.

When Russian bombs start raining down, they rush in to pull people out of the rubble. The interviews are intensely personal and candid. The action is truly thrilling and frankly horrifying in equal measure. It's not an easy watch by any means but everyone should see this film.

An unbelievably powerful story, beautifully told. Don't let the trolls put you off. That's clearly what they want.

For people who think it's a propaganda , you don't know what really happening in Syria because of what media shows all the time. It's not a civil war in Syria , it's a revolution and the government is killing the civilians with Russia's help !

whatever you think about the Syrian revolution , the white helmets are saving souls. When the bombs rain down, the Syrian Civil Defence rushes in. In a place where public services no longer function these unarmed volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need - regardless of their religion or politics. Known as the White Helmets these volunteer rescue workers operate in the most dangerous place on earth.

The documentary only shows a glimpse of how ugly the syrian regime and his Russian ali are,

we still yet to see another documentary about their prisons and how they torture people like they used to do in the dark ages there or even worse!,

"The White Helmets" documentary offers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the harrowing realities faced by those on the front lines of conflict in Syria. Through intimate storytelling and gripping footage, the film sheds light on the profound courage and selflessness of the White Helmets as they navigate the chaos of war to save lives.

While the documentary may face criticisms and controversies, its power lies in its ability to humanize the individuals behind the White Helmets. These are not faceless figures or political pawns, but ordinary people driven by an extraordinary sense of duty to their fellow human beings. Their bravery in the face of unimaginable danger serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit.

"Reality check" indeed, as one reviewer aptly puts it. In a world where conspiracy theories abound and misinformation runs rampant, "The White Helmets" serves as a beacon of truth, offering a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by those caught in the crossfire of conflict.

Ultimately, "The White Helmets" is a testament to the enduring power of hope and compassion in the face of adversity. It is a film that demands to be seen, not only for its cinematic excellence but also for its profound message of empathy and solidarity. In a world too often divided by fear and hatred, it is stories like these that remind us of our shared humanity and the importance of standing together in the face of injustice. "The White Helmets" is not just a documentary-it is a call to action, a plea for understanding, and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is a must-watch for anyone seeking to understand the true cost of war and the boundless capacity for heroism in the face of adversity.

I have never before seen such a powerful piece of documentary filmmaking. To say that "The White Helmets" moved me is truly an understatement. I had to watch it in two sittings. While watching the first half, I became so overwhelmed with emotions that I had to turn it off. It was the mix of emotions that did me in. Anger. Sadness. Frustration. Hopelessness. But also hope. And love. And patience. And strength. As I said: it was all just too much. Each emotion was stronger and more powerful than the one that came before it. Listening to the stories of the men who have dedicated their very lives to the mission of the White Helmets tore me up. Watching the video clips of bombings was an assault on my mind. Watching the video clips of them rescuing people, particularly the "miracle baby", was a downright shock to my system. I did not make it through either half of the viewings without many tears. This documentary is a must-see for the whole world.

There are 14 1/10 reviews almost in a row here, I think people should think about where these may have come from as it does not seem like a coincidence.

I fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and believe me, this film is nothing more than staged propaganda. The narrative that is being place in front of our eyes these days is reminiscent of when CNN, FOX, and MSNBC were all telling us that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. If anyone is curious of the legitimacy of this film and all of the lies being told about Syria today there is plenty of sources out there, don't just take it from me. DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK please.

The founder James Le Mesurier is British ex officer, he stole name Syrian civil defense from real Syrian organization, USA, EU and Turkey sponsors WH with millions of dollars so WH are not independent as they claim, sometimes they carry weapons, sometimes they carry terrorist flag, they operate only in rebel-terrorists held areas despite most of population escaped to pro Assad areas all you can easily find in YouTube. There is many propaganda movies but this one got the Oscar, bravo USA.

American Academy awarded this movie with golden statue. That tells a lot more about Hollywood than the film itself. War is very complex "thing", especially the war in Syria (where we got lot of sides fighting over the shoulders of Syrian people, including them self, of course), but this documentary make it so simple with black and white approach, typical for propaganda films. So, on one side we got good boys: The brave white helmets, and on the other side we got a devil himself: Al-Assad, evil Russians and... I almost forgot, the ISIS. So untrue. The next thing I "love" so much is the story told just by a group of guys (type at your browser: white helmets fakes). Where is the story of evil side? Where is the story of Syrian people? You just can't make a war movie from PERSONAL point of view. It's just wrong. One more "good thing" is cheep manipulation of viewer's emotions with a poor little children, a lot of tears and pathetic music. Is this whole movie fake? Judge yourself.

"The purpose of United States psychological operations is to induce or reinforce behavior favorable to U.S. objectives. They are an important part of the range of diplomatic, informational, military and economic activities available to the U.S. They can be utilized during both peacetime and conflict. There are three main types: strategic, operational and tactical"

That's exactly what the White Helmets are, wake up America

Propaganda made by USA. Look further and you will understand it