"Mosul" isn't the kind of easy, sentimental TV viewing often provided during the holidays, but it is a potent reminder of the deadly struggles and sacrifices some people have endured to earn their freedom.

This is one of the best movies of 2020.

Some of Carnahan's choices rely on certain Western stereotypes to underscore the awfulness of the Islamic State ... but what Mosul gets right more often is its prioritization of the Iraqi perspective, and the weight of all this violence.

Even if you find yourself wanting more out of the experience, Mosul offers a humanising look at post-2003 Iraq, with a powerful Oscar-worthy performance from Iraqi actor Suhail Dabbach.