Born in Syria (2016) User Reviews

Necessary, urgent cinema

[NACHOMO · 9/10 · 8 November 2016]

I saw this documentary at its world premiere at SEFF'16 (Sevilla Film Festival), and while I enjoyed it, enjoy is not a verb that can really be used when describing the experience of watching a film that deals with the greatest humanitarian disaster of this century. I haven't seen Hernán Zin's previous documentary, Nacido en Gaza, which also deals with another conflict from the point of view of children, but i have seen Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea), another documentary that depicts the same humanitarian catastrophe and that I found compelling and exasperating in equal parts. 'Nacido' compares favorably with 'Fire', giving voice to 7 children in different stops along the exodus path from Syria to Europe. The children are shown but they usually never talk to the camera, we just hear their voices. While I respect this choice, sometimes it feels like the children might be reading a script and takes away from the authenticity of a child speaking to camera. We get to see images of refugees and camps daily on the news, but what this film offers is what we lack in the news. instead of a reporter showing us what's happening in a few seconds, maybe minutes, we get to see and hear what the refugees see and hear. The small minutiae of their journey, but also the frustrations when they arrive in Europe and realize that life is not going to be easy and that another journey begins, be it renting an apartment or simply trying to reunite with the rest of their family. We also get to hear what the politicians have to say about this catastrophe and how it affects the migrants. It seems like the Syrian war aftermath has become a moral thermometer for Europe, with many countries taking off their masks. We usually blame politicians, but the moral decay some of them show is just a reflection of the great moral decay of a big part of the population in Europe. This is urgent, necessary cinema. In a better world, this kind of 'movie' should be grossing millions instead of being relegated to film festivals and art houses. While this film has already been bought by 24 countries, it will probably be released in just a few screens and sell maybe a few thousand tickets. Hopefully it will end up on Netflix.

Heartbreaking

[u-emoli · 9/10 · 31 May 2019]

This is a powerful well done documentary. It is not the only one done about the tragedy in Syria in the past few years and the ones by the BBC are probably way superior. But it is still a heartbreaking important documentary which the world should take notice of. Impossible not to spare a tear.

The Documentary is ALL HEART!

[SaanyaChopraDua · 9/10 · 5 April 2020]

How does one rate a documentary that discusses the realties of life and the people living those lives.

It's eye opening, heartbreaking and makes you want to get up and do something to help.

I am wondering is there a way to reach out any of the kids and their families in the documentary to offer help?!

Upsetting tragedy of war refugees all over world

[tomperuhawaii · 10/10 · 24 May 2019]

This heartbreaking documentary is a truly shocking portrayal of the tragedies of Syrian refuge children as they are dragged from their war ridden country thousands of miles across sea and land to find a new life. Shame on the dictators of this war ridden planet whose ego is bigger than their heart.

Who's Crisis is it?

[amjadtaleb · 10/10 · 6 July 2020]

This documentary starts where others end. Where the dreams of those who survived war, abuse, travel, drowning... are crushed the the European borders then slowly killed in the turmoil of bureaucracy and lack of resources.

This documentary makes it clear when someone talks about refugee crisis they should ask first: Who is in this crisis?

"The war made us grow up"

[samabc-31952 · 10/10 · 13 September 2019]

Heart-tending story of Syrian refugee... As Trump said "he can not let US turn into a 'migrant camp'", more than 1M Syrian refuges arrived to Europe in just one year - 2015... "I still remember the decapitated heads" Marwan, a 13 year old shares his 'childhood' images .. "The war made us grow up" Jihan, a 16 year old trying to shake off the harrowing memories "We are not eating enough. But we manage" a 10 year old Mohammad calling his mom from Belgium, waiting to be with her who is in Germany

"Borders are no longer means of separation but bridges"

• Jean-Claude Junckers. President of the EU

An important documentary

[fahry-39268 · 10/10 · 23 December 2020]

An important documentary which describes the ugly of war and how political interests playing life of innocent people's life. This was a very comprehensive and great documented film. thank you for that.

Important outlook on refugees

[angelachaddoud · 10/10 · 15 March 2020]

My beautiful country where my roots are from. This documentary is touching, hard and most importantly informative. How can people not open the boarders to refugees / humans! Kids! Families! My heart aches it's not their fault