The Sullivan family had their troubles in “In America” (2002), and so did Carlos Galindo (Damian Bichir) in the aptly named “A Better Life” (2011), as he hoped for a better one.Įven though the on-screen leads wrestle with acceptance, they usually throw themselves into the foreign ecosystems, jockey for some footing, and attempt to survive and thrive. Look to “Minari” (2020) and “Brooklyn” (2015) as recent examples. While the homeland may become enriched, many times, the aforementioned residents do individually struggle to find their way.

Kennedy said, “Everywhere, immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.” In the U.S., we rightfully boast about our immigrant roots, and President John F. These stories are commonplace threads within societies’ fabrics, and the protagonists face built-in conflicts simply by existing in their newfound environments. Immigrant feature films frequently land in theatres and streaming services for probably a couple of reasons. They’ve fled prejudice, tyranny and war, leaving their friends and families behind, and if they could go home, they would, in a heartbeat.Don’t wait to see ‘Limbo’, an unconventional immigrant story All the refugees on the island have left their homes only because they’ve no choice and the film treats its characters as real, complex human beings, not simply as nameless, faceless immigrants coming over here to scrounge off the state or to steal our jobs. Limbo also carries with it a strong message, the wry humour juxtaposed by each character’s sheer frustration, boredom and helplessness with long, lingering shots capturing the emptiness and isolation of their surroundings. The opening scene in particular is both awkward and laugh out loud funny and fans of Still Game will appreciate the memorable cameo from Sanjeev Kohli as the film progresses. These mundane interactions, and indeed those between Omar and his friends - as they spend their time watching pirated DVDs of Friends or participating in social orientation exercises intended to prepare them for life in the UK - result in some of the film’s best moments. The coldness of this miserable backdrop is partially offset by the interactions between the island’s new inhabitants and the local population, avoiding any real conflict in favour of benign curiosity and general indifference: a local postie stops and stares between deliveries or a pensioner reverses her mobility scooter for a second look. Limbo is beautifully shot, perfectly capturing the harsh isolation of the Uists - where it was filmed - from the howling winds and thrashing seas to the haunting, weather-beaten landscapes. The film eventually got a theatrical release in the UK in the summer of 2021 and while I missed out on seeing it in cinemas, I was finally able to watch it on the excellent MUBI streaming platform and was not disappointed. But, when the plaudits started rolling in from the festival circuit - including nominations at the BAFTAs, the Zurich Film Festival, the London Film Festival and wins at the Cairo International Film Festival, the San Sebastian Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards - I knew I had to track it down. At first, it was simply the novel idea of refugees landing on a hostile island in the Outer Hebrides, and the inherent potential for exploring themes of isolation, homesickness and small-minded rural attitudes that piqued my interest.

It’s a film that’s been on my radar for a while.

Born from the Scottish writer-director’s frustrations at what he saw as dehumanising representations of refugees in the UK - depictions that were in stark contrast with his own experiences of living and studying in Syria - the film follows Omar (Amir El-Masry) and his housemates Farhad (Vikash Bhai), Wasef (Ola Orebiyi) and Abedi (Kwabena Ansah) as they seek asylum on a remote Scottish island. Limbo is a comedy-drama from indie filmmaker Ben Sharrock that aims to realistically and humanely portray the experiences of refugees while adding a sprinkling of humour along the way. Movie Review: Limbo (2021) Refugees wait for asylum on a bleak Scottish island… A wry British comedy that leaves a lasting impression.

Limbo movie 2021 streaming