Review by Rolf Brockschmidt | Der Tagesspiegel | September 11, 2018
The critic discusses an essay film by Hans Puttnies about the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria. Puttnies visited the site in 2008 and turned his footage into a film after ISIS destroyed the city in 2015.
The director presents Palmyra as a European ideological construct. The film offers archaeological documentation and addresses the Roman history of the metropolis, which served as a trading buffer between the Roman and Persian empires.
A central problem of the film lies in its use of ISIS propaganda material. The critic points out that Puttnies „uncritically adopts ISIS propaganda videos from the internet,“ including documented executions. This is judged „unbearable and unforgivable,“ since it amplifies the reach of terrorist content.
Highlighted positively is a drive through modern Tadmor with a trader, as well as a conversation with the 15-year-old souvenir vendor Mohamad. His statement ultimately refutes Puttnies‘ thesis: „The ruins are in my heart.“
The article ends with the observation that Palmyra embodies „the soul of the Syrian nation,“ which is why ISIS sought its destruction.