At the Movies: Abu Adnan

 

Director: Sylvia Le Fanu

Producer: Sune Wahl 

 

Winner: Indy shorts, Grand Prize Winner, Oscar Qualifying festival.

 

Sayid, a refugee doctor from Syria, has just received a Danish residence permit, and is about to embark on establishing a new life in rural Denmark together with his son Adnan. At the same time as having to learn a new language, he faces the challenge of maintaining his boy’s respect, in a situation where Adnan’s assimilation seems to be going somewhat faster than his own.

 

The story is a different take on refugees, because more than a film about refugees it’s a story about humans, and a story that we know resonate not only with refugees but also immigrants and non immigrants, this is not a story about politics, but as I said, a human story. Its about communication and what often gets lots in translation through language and culture. Its a film with no bad guys, only people trying their best the real enemy here is what is lost in translation. We wanted to make a film that presents a realistic look into the inner workings of a refugee/immigrant family trying to settle in a new country not only fighting with a new language and culture, but also the new family dynamics, that come in play when the children learn the language and assimilate faster.