In 1949, the German philosopher Theodor Adorno famously declared that writing poetry after Auschwitz was “barbaric.” The question underlying his statement always remains relevant: does making art in the light of wars, genocides and other atrocities have any purpose? David Henry Gerson’s documentary, “The Story Won’t Die,” answers with a resounding yes. The Syrian refugee artists profiled in the film — men and women who have suffered through one of the most brutal displacements of our time — advocate not only for the survival of art, but for art as a resources of survival.
By weaving interviews with a number of Syrian singers, rappers, dancers and visual artists now based in Europe, Gerson explores the ways in which artistic expression arises both through and in spite of repression. For some, like post-rock musician Anas Maghrebi, who brought his three drum kits across the Atlantic on a boat, their calling is like a spiritual life jacket. For others, such as the photographer Omar Imam, the experience of migration has been a furious impulse: his ‘Syrialism’ series attempts to redefine stereotypical depictions of refugees.
Threading the needle between individual stories and a broader historical portrait is as much of a challenge for Gerson as it is for his subjects. While the artists like to portray their experiences in their work, they want to be seen as more than “a lab rat for people to show documentaries about,” says Bahila Hijazi, a member of an all-female Syrian rock band. If Gerson’s smooth supercut style can feel frustratingly fleeting at times, he wisely chooses to leave the stage to the performers — rousing scenes from concerts and recitals are the film’s highlights — rather than turning them into data points for a exhaustive account of the refugee crisis.
The story will not die
Not judged. In Arabic and English, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 23 minutes. In theaters and for rent or sale on Amazon, Vudu and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators.