Filming History from Below

In the world of documentary filmmaking, grand historical narratives have long been dominant — shining the spotlight on great events and prominent figures. Filming History from Below by Efrin Kovbas takes us on a journey through documentaries that, in some of their narrative approaches, reconstruct or reinterpret history from the perspective of “below” — through the stories of ordinary people and everyday events.
Through his analysis of these films, Kovbas offers a profound exploration of how documentary storytelling can illuminate “history from below” and redefine human history itself.

Drawing from an academic framework, the book provides a valuable contribution to both film and historical studies. The author argues that analyses of how films shape history have rarely been pursued — especially concerning films that focus on marginalized narratives. He suggests that documentary storytelling is never neutral in its construction but rather insists that every film or project inherently invites us to reconsider how we perceive historical events.

The book presents an in-depth study of the “history from below” approach, showing how cinema has been able to reconstruct the past starting from everyday lived experiences rather than grand historical events. It offers an alternative vision of the past — one that not only recounts history but also redefines how “history” itself functions.

Undoubtedly, Filming History from Below stands as a unique and valuable contribution to Arabic scholarship in film and documentary studies. It serves as a vivid and ongoing invitation to research, reflect, and rethink both the past and the cinematic mission of interpreting and critiquing it.