Image representing refugees in distress
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), global forced displacement surpassed 84 million in mid-2021, and the figure is still rising.
Despite being set in diverse geographic regions such as Afghanistan, Syria and Cambodia, the films ‘Flea’, ‘Born in Syria’, ‘Human Flow’, ‘First They Killed My Father’ and ‘For Sama’ remind us that all human Creatures deserve to be heard, seen and treated with respect and compassion.
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These critically acclaimed documentaries, one of which Zee Special Projects is bringing to India, demonstrate that the refugee crisis cannot be defined by statistics alone.
Here is an overview of these moving, real-life stories that are available on various OTT platforms.
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Escape
‘Flea’ is an animated account of the dangerous journey of a young Afghan boy named Amin, and it begins with a powerful question: “What does home mean to you?” It then goes on to describe how Amin, who used to shut off the world with his headphones on while listening to pop music, could no longer ignore the civil unrest in Afghanistan. He leaves his beloved home and flees into an unknown future. This journey takes him across continents until he finds normalcy decades later. However, can he really forget the adversities he and his family have endured? Can he forget the corruption and cruelty he has seen? Can he ever feel safe enough to settle down in one place? Check out this Oscar nominee Jonas.
Available on Zee5.
born in syria
Bernan Zinn’s documentaries, such as ‘Born in Gaza’ and ‘Born in Syria’, have helped raise awareness of the trauma experienced by children displaced by war. The film begins with images of a shaky dinghy filled with crying children and faces young and old marked by fear, frustration and exhaustion. They remind us of the horrors that millions of refugees face every day. The documentary tells the story of seven children whose lives and families are torn apart. The gist of the film is contained in the words of 13-year-old Marwan, who says, “I thought crossing the ocean would be the worst, but getting nowhere is worse.”
Available on Netflix.
human flow
Human Flow, directed by Ai Weiwei, is a 2017 documentary with a macro and micro perspective on the current global refugee crisis. It takes us on an epic journey of more than 20 countries to document the impact of forced human migration on individuals and communities. The film takes us through stories that are largely untold, using drones to sweep across the flow of migrants and intimate accounts shot with phone cameras. The film is a call for compassion and empathy for fellow human beings who have nothing to do with the geopolitical turmoil in which they are helplessly caught. AI investigates the causes of mass migration and seeks long-term solutions that will allow future generations to live without fear.
Available on Prime Video.
first they killed my father
Angelina Jolie’s film adaptation of activist Long Ung’s autobiographical book by Oscar-winning actor, director and UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie allows us to see the Cambodian genocide through the eyes of a young survivor. The film tells of how the young girl and her family endured unspeakable suffering under the rule of Pol Pot. It sensitively addresses issues faced by Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who are dehumanized in their home countries. For example, Long Un was made a child soldier during the Communist Khmer regime at the age of seven. The film, set in 1975, depicts Loong’s training as a child soldier while his siblings are sent to labor camps under the Khmer Rouge regime. It also reveals the austerity which no human being has.
Available on Netflix.
for sambo
The 2019 BAFTA-winning documentary For Sama, directed by Wad al-Kateb and Edward Watts, has been praised for providing a rare account of war from a female perspective. The film follows Waad al-Yatra Kateb as a mother, wife, journalist and rebel with shocking intimacy during the Syrian uprising in Aleppo. During her marriage to Hamza al-Kateb, one of the few doctors left in Aleppo, she learns that she is pregnant. As the war progresses, she gives birth to her child. On March 11, 2019, the film was premiered by Southwest Festival, where it won the Grand Jury and Audience Awards in the Documentary Feature Competition. It was nominated for four BAFTA Awards as well as the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.