The Lions By The River Tigris

In Mosul, a city devastated during the battle for liberation from the Islamic State, the fight to heal and preserve its identity, culture, and art is far from over.

Three men refuse to let Mosul remain in ruins. Bashar, a fisherman, desperately tries to rebuild what was once his family’s home. Fakhri, a passionate collector, salvages remnants of the city’s past, determined to preserve its history. Fadel, a musician once silenced under ISIS rule, now inspires a new generation to embrace art over extremism.

As Mosul slowly rebuilds itself, we witness a cultural reawakening—women reclaiming public spaces, theaters reopening, music schools emerging, ancient heritage restored. A city with 8,000 years of history, struggling to reclaim its soul through those who refuse to let it fade into oblivion.