Dreaming of Denmark
| Dreaming of Denmark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Michael Graversen |
| Produced by | Lise Saxtrup |
| Distributed by | Autlook Filmsales |
Release date | 5th November 2015 (DK) - 16th March (Int.) |
Running time | 62 mins. |
| Country | DK |
Dreaming of Denmark is a documentary film by director Michael Graversen that investigates what happens to one of the many unaccompanied minor refugees who disappear in Europe. The film was released at the peak of the refugee crisis in Europe in 2015/16.
Synopsis
Director Michael Graversen’s film investigates what happens to one of the many unaccompanied minor refugees who disappear in Europe after their asylum claim is rejected. Over the course of 4 years the director follows the faith of the young afghan Wasiullah from the careless days at the children's asylum centre in Denmark to the illegal life through Europe where Wasi ends up in a homeless existence in Italy. The dream of one day returning to Denmark is what keeps Wasi going until he in the end brakes down and loses his memory.[1]
Reception and impact
Dreaming of Denmark premiered at CPH:DOX and was nominated for a F:ACT Award.[2] It was broadcast in a primetime slot on Danish national TV DR1.[3]
After the release in Denmark the film hit the headlines in danish media and sparked debate about the conditions of the unaccompanied minor refugees in Denmark.[4][5][6] The director Michael Graversen has since regularly appeared in the public debate in Denmark advocating for the rights of young and child refugees [7][8] as well as traveling internationally with the film speaking about its subject to the press and participating in debate panels.[9]
Danish film magazine EKKO wrote in a review of the film: "What is at stake in the portrait, is the human consequences of a youth growing up as a shadow existence with nothing to cling on to than the hope to be let. Wasis Sisyphean existence is a profound input in the refugee debate and Dreaming of Denmark is something as rare as an important film.".[10]
The film has been selected to several international film festivals and won the Amnesty Award at Giffoni International Film Festival.[11] Huffington Post wrote after the Greek premiere at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival where the film was a part of a highlighted segment focusing on films about the refugees crisis: "My favorite was Michael Graversen’s Dreaming of Denmark, which directly puts you in the shoes of an Afghan teenager who, unable to get residency in Denmark and afraid to be deported, leaves Denmark with nothing on his back to find a new life in Italy".[12]
When the film was screened on the national Austrian broadcasting channel ORF it was followed by an hour long debate about human rights[13] and ABC News interviewed the director focusing on the plight of children seeking asylum.[14]
In 2016 the director was awarded the Salaam Film Prize 2016[15] for his work filming the unaccompanied minors in Denmark not only in Dreaming of Denmark but also in the predecessor No Man's Land (2013) set before the refugee crisis.
Not all the reactions towards the film has been positive. After the TV broadcast in Denmark the director participated in a chat at the newspaper Ekstra Bladet's website. Some users took offence of the directors portrayal of a refugee. The broadcast was two days after one of the terrorist attacks in Paris and some users meant that the director had the blood of the victims on his hands making an emphatic film about a refugee as refugees could also be terrorists.[16]
Festivals and awards
- Amnesty Award, Giffoni International Film Festival[17]
- 2. prize Best Documentary, Giffoni International Film Festival [18]
- Lübeck, Nordische Filmtage [19]
- Japan Prize, International Educational Program Contest[20]
- Helsinki International Film Festival [21]
- Thessaloniki Documentary Festival [22]
- Bucharest One World, Romania [23]
- Document Human Rights Film Festival, Glasgow [24]
- Human Rights & Arts Film Festival, Melbourne [25]
- BUFF International Children's Film festival, Malmø [26]
- Human Rights Watch Film Festival, Amsterdam [27]
- Salaam Film Prize 2016 [28]
- CPH:DOX, F:ACT Award nominee [29]
References
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark", The Danish Film Institute, 5th november 2015
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark", CPH:DOX, 5th november 2015
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark", DR TV, 15th november 2015
- ^ "Unaccompanied minor refugees are left to live on the streets", Ekstra Bladet, 5th november 2015
- ^ "Are refugee children to be sent home when they turn 18?", P1 Debat, 5th november 2015
- ^ "We have a responsibility towards unaccompanied minor refugees", 5th november 2015, dr.dk"
- ^ "Close the children's asylum centres", Berlingske, 4th August 2016
- ^ "They live in the shadows and will never be part of society", information.dk, 8th april 2016
- ^ "18th TDF: Press conference", tdf.filmfestival.gr, 16th March 2016.
- ^ "Review: Dreaming of Denmark", 5th November 2016, Ekko
- ^ "Double success of Dreaming of Denmark: Amnesty International Award and the second prize at Giffoni International Film Festival", 2nd August 2016, Doc Incubator
- ^ "The Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival: From Janis Joplin and Bjork to Refugees from Syria", 6st July 2016, Huffington Post
- ^ "Kreuz und quer", ORF, 15th December 2015
- ^ "Documentary highlights plight of children seeking asylums", 6th May 2016, ABC News
- ^ "Salaam Film Prize 2016", salaam.dk, 13.th september 2016
- ^ "Live-chat with the director of "Dreaming of Denmark"", Ekstra Bladet, 15th november 2015
- ^ "Dreaming of Denmark wins Amnesty Award", dr.dk, 28th july 2016
- ^ "Giffoni 2016 winners", cineuropa.org, 26th july 2016
- ^ "Nordic Film Days Lübeck", leubeck.de, 4th november 2016
- ^ "Japan Prize", NHK, 26th october 2016
- ^ "Helsinki International Film Festival", hiff.fi, 23rd september 2016
- ^ "Thessaloniki doc fest tunes into refugee crisis", Ekathimerini, 11th February 2016
- ^ "One World", oneworld.ro, 23rd March 2016
- ^ "Document Film Festival, Glasgow", documentfestival.org, 23 October 2016
- ^ "Human Rights and Arts Film Festival, Melbourne", hraff.au, 7th May 2016
- ^ "BUFF, Malmø", buff.se, 22nd march 2017
- ^ "Human Rights Watch Film Festival", ff.hrw.org, 29th January 2017
- ^ "Salaam Film Prize", salaam.dk, september 2016
- ^ "F:ACT Award nominees", cphdox.dk, november 2015