In 2013, after years of political and religious unrest and war, ISIS emerged, quickly proving itself to be a bigger, more pressing global threat than the Islamic terrorist groups who came before.
ISIS had many names, ISIL, Daesh, Islamic State, but the organisation was known for one thing— the bloody lengths it would go to in order to exert control over a people.
While ISIS has its origins in Iraq and Syria, the group grew and quickly invaded pieces of other nations in the Middle East, including Egypt and Libya.
In 2015, ISIS made headlines once again—this time for the brutal beheading of 21 Coptic Christian men, 20 of whom were Egyptian and one from Ghana.
ISIS captured the men in Sirte, Libya when they were on their way back home, torturing them for months before murdering them.
The men were recognised as saints and martyrs by the Coptic Christian Church in February 2015 on and by the Catholic Church in 2023.
Now, an animated short film has been made commemorating these men and their brave martyrdom, simply named The 21.
The film, executive produced by The Chosen star Jonathan Roumie, tells the tale of these men and what they endured during their capture until their deaths.
The 21 does not shy away from explaining via voiceover what happened to these Coptic hostages but does not depict the horrific violence the men endured.
The film is serious and yet there are glimmers of lightness—the terrorists are portrayed as having grandiose sets on which they create their terror, complete with dollies, camera rigs, and autocue.
Animated in a neo-Coptic style, the Christians in the film retain a distant holiness to them, befitting of the subject matter.
There is also a distinct difference in how the Christians and Islamists are drawn, with the terrorists being animated in a distinctly more flat, menacing way.
They are, as ISIS radicals were, adorned entirely in black, with only their eyes and hands able to be seen.
What is visible is not welcoming, their hands are instruments of pain and violence, and their eyes are inhuman, white irises peeking out from black sclera.
The viewers likely know how this story ends and there is more than what this 11-minute short film includes but what does make the cut is a succinct, respectful retelling.
What these men went through in Libya was horrific, they were tortured in many ways, threatened, and eventually beheaded—with footage of their deaths broadcast by ISIS and seen across the world.
And yet, they never wavered in their faith, never relented and converted to Islam if only to make their agony end, and ultimately they died for their faith.
The 21 ensures the steadfast faith and sacrifice these martyrs made will never be forgotten.
The 21 is available to watch on YouTube.