The Black Flag 2014

The Islamic State (ISIS), a branch of Sunnism called Salafism, considers being a Shiite, as most Iraqi Arabs and Iranians are, apostasy. Therefore, 200 million Shiites are marked for death. The group's Arabic name, transliterated as ‘ad-Dawlah al-Islāmīyah fī al-‘Irāq wash-Shām’ (Daesh) means bigots. This is the reason why militants threaten to cut the tongue of anyone who uses it. Jorf al-Sakhar is located about 60 km to southwest of Baghdad. Since 2003, it has been in the hands of al-Qaeda, lately it has fallen under the control of Daesh. Director Majed Neisi picked up his camera and joined a group of Shia mujaheds in their fight against the Daesh militia. Their objective: to conquer Jorf al-Sakar where the black flag of Daesh is waving. Majed Neisi’s film offers a unique perspective on a war often misunderstood in the Western world. Shot in the trenches, back to back with the mujaheds, while bullets fly everywhere, sharply edited, Black Flag tells the real story, in brutal, never seen breathtaking close-up, of those who fight Daesh.