Ali’s journey has been a long and challenging one. Assigned female at birth but struggling with a gender identity that never felt quite right, Ali lived as a woman–married and living within the strict traditions of his family in Syria. But everything changed after Ali’s arrest during the 2011 rebellion against the Al-Assad regime. In prison, Ali made the decision to live as the man he always felt he was deep down, and he hasn’t looked back since.
Now, a new documentary follows Ali’s journey from those pivotal moments in his life to the present day. The documentary features personal interviews and candid footage that provide an intimate portrait of Ali as he undergoes gender reassignment surgery, changes his name, and finally begins to live as the person he always felt he was meant to be. Through Ali’s story, viewers gain a new perspective on gender identity, personal identity, and the incredible bravery that can emerge even in the most trying of circumstances.
