Synopsis
This film shows with realism and sensitivity the tragedy of women whose sons enlist in the Jihad. They are part of very distant worlds: Angela is a well known writer, a rich widow who never remarried after her husband's death. She dedicated her life to her son, Sean, and to her writing. They live in Italy.
Fatima is a Moroccan who emigrated very young with her husband Khalid. Their children Taarik and Nadia, were born in England. Taarik is an accomplished sportsman and very good in his studies. Both Sean and Taarik feel that the Western world doesn't correspond to their aspirations of absolute, idealism and holiness.
Omar, a charismatic Syrian who comes often to visit their campus at the British university where they both study, is in reality a recruiter for the IS. He creates an Islamic confraternity and invites the two young men to be part of it. Sean and Taarik are fascinated by Omar, who shows them propaganda trailers and gives them books with the Prophet's sayings. But more to the point he gives them rules, a thing the young men need, that they don't find in the Western society, where neither the school, nor the family are no longer able to give rules, but only “weak thought” and destructive politically correct notions.
The two young men decide to go to Syria. But here their paths diverge dramatically. While Taarik finds what he was looking for and aspires to become a martyr, Sean is disappointed to find out that the women are treated like merchandise and that the “movement” makes money with drugs. Despite the fact that he converts to Islam, his critical attitude towards the actions of the man he admired so much, bothers Omar, who decides that Sean (whose new name is Karim) will never be a good Muslim. In the meantime, their two mothers live their private hell, questioned by the anti-terrorist police, fired from their jobs, abandoned by their friends and families. All that because of the decision their sons have taken. Their friendship starts at the support group organized by Doctor Diana Fortis, where they meet other parents in their situation.
The film is an open window on a hidden world. It is a deep spiritual analysis of a very present drama of our time: the parents who have to face their sons' and daughters' tragic choices.