A discarded entry about the Frontline episode 'Mosul'

I discarded the following passage from 'Cries from Syria' versus 'The Wounds of War' plus other News and Documentary Emmy nominees about the Syrian Civil War when I realized that it wasn't about the Syrian Civil War at all, but about the related fight against ISIS next door in Iraq. Oops. Still, I saved it, so I'm posting it here.


The next most honored nominee about the Syrian Civil War fight against ISIS is the "Frontline" episode "Mosul," which I've already written about twice, once for each nomination. Time to recycle, beginning with 'Abacus,' 'Edith and Eddie,' 'Heroin(e),' and 'Last Men in Aleppo' — Oscar nominees at the 2018 News and Documentary Emmy Awards.

The two Oscar nominees for Documentary Short Subject, "Edith and Eddie" and "Heroin(e)," are competing against each other at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Documentary. Joining them are "Mosul" from "Frontline" on PBS, "Long Shot" on Netflix, and "The New York Times Op-Docs: I Have a Message for You."

I think "Heroin(e)" has the inside track based on its being an Oscar nominee and having the better review on Indiewire. Still, electorates matter, and the one for the News and Documentary Awards might like a "Frontline" episode more.

Now to recycle from 'Chasing Coral' versus 'Yosemite' — two nominees for Outstanding Nature Documentary both examine climate change.

The camera work is indeed lovely and captures the beauty of Yosemite National Park, which is why I think "Yosemite" has a good chance to win Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary. There, it faces another nominee for Outstanding Nature Documentary, "Ireland's Wild Coast" for its second nomination. This is my third choice of Outstanding Nature Documentary...The other nominees for Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary include the "Frontline" episode "Mosul" and the "Nature" episodes "Forest of the Lynx" and "Spy in the Wild: A NATURE Mini-series." "Mosul" also has a nomination for Outstanding Short Documentary, but the two "Nature" episodes only have the nominations for cinematography. Given the field, my comment last year that nature documentary nominees are well photographed at the News and Documentary Emmy Awards is still true.

While I've written about its nominations, I haven't embedded its trailer until now. Here is MOSUL: Theatrical Trailer.

"MOSUL: Theatrical Trailer | Coming to FRONTLINE Oct. 18" (Watch on YouTube)

In October 2016, an elite team of Iraqi Special Forces was tasked with leading the fight to defeat ISIS in Mosul. It was the beginning of a brutal battle of attrition that was to last almost nine months. Filmed over the course of the whole campaign, MOSUL follows the experiences of four young soldiers: Anmar, a college graduate seeking revenge after his father was the victim of a suicide attack; Hussein, a ruthless sniper and aspiring soccer player; Jamal, a wise-cracking sergeant; and Amjad, a young recruit excited to be on the frontline. Full of hope and good intentions at the beginning of the campaign, the soldiers are forced to confront the reality of fighting an elusive and vicious enemy in a city full of trapped civilians who are themselves fearful and suspicious of the army. And with victory in sight, tragedy strikes. When ISIS eventually capitulates, much of the city is destroyed, and the surviving soldiers are left haunted by what they have seen and done. Directed by Olivier Sarbil; Produced by James Jones, Dan Edge, Raney Aronson-Rath

"Mosul" ended up winning the award for Outstanding Cinematography: Documentary, so I'll get to use the last half of this eventually.