Caliphate (2020)

8.5 /10

Director: Goran Kapetanović

Cast: Gizem Erdogan, Aliette Opheim, Nora Rios, Amed Bozan, Lancelot Ncube, SimonMezher

No. of Episodes: 8

Where To Watch: Netflix

Synopsis: Pervin (Gizem Erdogan) wants to leave Raqqa (Syria), the ISIS caliphate with her infant daughter. She requests Swedish security agent Fatima (Aliette Opheim) to provide a safe path to Sweden, who in exchange wants some vital information on a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, three Muslim girls are in grave danger of being radicalized by an ISIS recruiter code-named Traveler.

Caliphate, originally Kalifat is a Swedish drama thriller dealing with the network of ISIS recruiters who uses religion as a weapon and brainwash school girls. They are lured with the pictures of the beautiful life they will get if they join ISIS. They are supplied with a daily dose of radicalization. All this ultimately lead them to Raqqa where they would marry an ISIS terrorist only to serve them until they become widows. This series takes inspiration from true events where three British teenage girls run away from their families to join ISIS.

Nora Rios (Middle)

This eight part nerve chilling thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat and increases your heart rate with every episode. A bond gets created between viewers and Pervin. The best part of the series is that it keeps a realistic approach towards the issue and doesn't become overdramatic. It's a well researched and documented series.

Every actor has given a mind-blowing and top-class performance. The story is believable and gripping. Direction, cinematography, and sets are perfect. This show highlights a very important issue that needs to be tackled.

Gizem Erdogan (Left) and Amed Bozan (Right)

This series not only deals with terrorists and security agencies who want to catch them but it also explains how the families suffer when their children are brainwashed. What they experience and how devastating this is for them? This part is very important and makers should be praised for the way they have portrayed all this. I'm not sure why Netflix didn't promote such a solid piece of work.

Like other series, this too have plot holes but they can be ignored as they don't have too much impact on our watching experience. The ending could have been improved a little bit but it's still a believable one.

Overall. Caliphate is bold, heart-wrenching, and a well-made series. If you love watching series dealing with issues like terrorism and crime, you can definitely check this out. This will not disappoint you.

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