Educational Media Reviews Online

In Hands of God, Ricardo Romani, chronicles the Iraqi national boxing team’s journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics whilst living under the constant threat of ISIS. It spotlights three male boxers as they go from battling ISIS at home to battling boxing champions across the world. Through these stories, Romani shows us the brutality of the war against ISIS along with the grit and determination of these athletes who continue to follow their dreams despite everything. We see them struggle as they make decisions around whether to focus on their sport or protect their home, which proves to be disheartening and illuminating, but ultimately at the end, hopeful.

The documentary starts in 2014 and leads up to the 2016 AIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. It includes interviews with the athletes along with footage from their everyday lives, training, boxing matches, and military activity. It highlights the mass number of bombings and attacks that happen in their city or nearby and includes statistics on the number of casualties. The harrowing images of the war against ISIS emphasize the determination and dedication of these men and truly showcase the insurmountable challenge they face. The use of music and the cinematography of the film accentuate the film's message.

Hands of God is a story of perseverance but also an eye-opening look at the struggles of the Iraqi people and the damage ISIS has done to them. You will wonder at how the Iraqi people, particularly those featured in the film, continue to have hope and continue to work towards qualifying for the Olympics. You will find yourself cheering them on at every match as well as experiencing their heartbreaks and their triumphs. I highly recommend this documentary for collections in Middle Eastern Studies, Political Science, History or Sport for use by general audiences.

Awards:

Official Selection at Taormina Film Festival