There is so much to say about this film. First Zain Al Rafeea is a powerhouse. He brings so much maturity to the role with being so young. His maturity can be due to his own life as a Syrian refugee, but still he carries this film on his shoulders and then some. The scene that starts Zain on his journey is when his sister is ripped apart from him. It is really brutal and sad. You hate his parents for doing it, but when they describe their actions in court, you can kind of buy they believe they are doing the right thing. Then again they could just be lying because in then end they really do not care about their children. Either way Zain takes charge of his own life and destiny despite the adults around him trying to do it for him. It was a little too long for my taste, but for the most part it really was a deep and exposing dive into poverty and immigration in other parts of the world. The film also reminds me a lot of other Cannes Film Festival films Ramin Bahrani’s CHOP SHOP and that same year’s Hirokazu Kore-eda’s SHOPLIFTERS.
