original title:
Border
directed by:
cast:
Sara El Debuch, Dana Keilani, Wasim Abo azan, Sami Haddad, Abdul Ahmed, Jamal El Zohbi
screenplay:
Alessio Cremonini, Susan Dabbous
cinematography:
editing:
set design:
Alessandra Stefanelli
costume design:
Lisa Tran Van
producer:
production:
world sales:
country:
Italy
year:
2013
film run:
95'
format:
colour
festivals & awards:
The Syrian war has so far caused 80,000 deaths and 800,000 refugees
who have fled to Libya, Turkey and Jordan. This film is based on a true
story.
Aya and Fatima are two sisters who live in a
village in Syria, in the epicenter of the fighting between police and
shabiha, the regime’s militia. One day Muhammad, a messenger of Fatima’
s husband Shady, pays a visit. Having been part of the military for
years, Shady has recently join the rebels of the Syrian Free Army. The
consequence of this decision is the vendetta of the Secret Service and
shabiha on Shady and his family. The only chance to survive which Aya
and Fatima have is to cross the Turkish border, seek refuge and wait
for Shady to join them. They leave with few belongings accompanied by
Farid, a friend of Muhammad, who will escort them to the border. The
problems to cross the border are numerous and many people who have
tried such a feat, never made it alive. Their trip complicates further,
when Farid decides to give a lift to Bilal, a man with a mysterious
past and keen to escape Syria. The sister’s relationship with Bilal is
tense and they cannot trust anyone. The situation worsens following the
death of Farid. They cannot travel by themselves because only united
they will be able to cross the border and find freedom.