Syria’s Past in New TV Series

In a Damascus air base previously inaccessible under Bashar Al Assad, a production crew is now filming a TV series depicting the last months of the ousted leader’s regime from the perspective of a Syrian family.

“Filming here feels surreal,” expressed director Mohamad Abdul Aziz from the Mazzeh base, which once served as a detention center operated by Assad’s notoriously cruel air force intelligence branch.

Located in the southwestern suburbs of the capital, the site “once symbolized military might. Today, we’re producing a show about the collapse of that power,” he shared with AFP.

Assad’s escape to Russia occurred as an Islamist-led offensive neared Damascus, capturing it without resistance on December 8 last year, marking the end of nearly 14 years of civil war and five decades of Assad family rule.

A scene at the Mazzeh base portrays the escape of an Assad confidant, set to feature in “The King’s Family,” filmed at high-security locations once feared by Syrians.

The series is scheduled for a February release during Ramadan, a peak viewing time in the Arab world, as channels compete for viewer attention.

Since Assad’s ouster, many actors, directors, and industry figures who opposed him have returned to Syria, revitalizing the local entertainment scene. Other series are also choosing to film at former military or security sites.

– ‘Unthinkable Before’ –

“It’s a peculiar feeling… Places that once governed Syria are now creative hubs,” Abdul Aziz remarked.

Elsewhere in Damascus, his crew occupies offices at the former military intelligence facility known as the Palestine Branch, infamous for brutal interrogations where some detainees never survived.

“The mere mention of Palestine Branch once instilled fear,” Abdul Aziz said about the facility known for torture and abuse.

Outside, amidst charred vehicles and explosions, the team recreates a scene portraying “the release of detainees following the collapse of security forces,” he described.

When Assad fell last year, jails were opened, freeing thousands of detainees. Desperate Syrians flocked to these facilities, searching for missing loved ones, many of whom remain unaccounted for.

Assad’s opulent, heavily secured residence, which was looted after his flight to Russia, also features in the new series.

Abdul Aziz filmed a fight scene with over 150 participants and gunfire outside the residence in Damascus’s Malki district.

“This was unimaginable before,” he noted.

– ‘Fear’ –

The series’ screenwriter, Maan Sakbani, 35, expressed cautious optimism that the days of stringent censorship under Assad are over.

The new authorities’ information ministry still reviews scripts, but feedback on “The King’s Family” was minimal, he shared from a traditional Damascene house where the team discussed scene sequences.

Sakbani remains unsure about the longevity of this relative freedom, awaiting audience reactions to the Ramadan productions.

Several other series reflecting on the Assad era are set for release, including “Enemy Syrians,” depicting life under the watchful eyes of security forces.

Another, “Going Out to the Well,” directed by Mohammed Lutfi and featuring notable Syrian actors, focuses on deadly 2008 prison riots at the infamous Saydnaya facility.

Amnesty International labeled the facility a “human slaughterhouse.”

“The script was penned over two years ago with plans to film before Assad’s fall,” Lutfi explained.

Concerns about the former regime’s reaction deterred actors, and finding filming locations in Syria was impossible.

Now, filming is scheduled on-site.

“The new authorities embraced the project, offering logistical support and facilities for filming inside Saydnaya prison,” Lutfi said.

This allows for “an authentic portrayal of the prisoners’ suffering and the regime’s actions from within the actual location,” he concluded.