Recounted mostly through animation to protect his identity, Amin looks back over his past as a child refugee from Afghanistan as he grapples with a secret he’s kept hidden for 20 years. A thrilling documentary made with a blend of animation and archive footage tells an immensely powerful tale of a gay Afghan survivor and his need to confront his past in order to truly have a future. Amin arrived as an unaccompanied minor in Denmark from Afghanistan. Today, at 36, he is a successful academic and is getting married to his long-time boyfriend. A secret he has been hiding for over 20 years threatens to ruin the life he has built for himself. For the first time he is sharing his story with his close friend. FLEE weaves together a stunning tapestry of images and memories to tell the deeply affecting and original story of a young man grappling with his traumatic past in order to find his true self and the meaning of home.
- Released: 2021-06-17
- Runtime: 90 minutes
- Genre: Animation, Documentaries
- Stars: Rashid Aitouganov, Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Milad Eskandari, Belal Faiz, Elaha Faiz, Zahra Mehrwarz, Sadia Faiz, Georg Jagunov, Navid Nazir, Hafiz Højmark, Denis Rivin, Vadim Nedaskovskij, Viktor Melnikov, Mikhail Belinson, Ditte Graa Wulff, Bo Asdal Andersen, The Dungeon Master, Behrouz Bigdeli, Christian Torp Carlsen, Gustaf Georg Lindström, Tormod Ringnes, Susanna Azevedo, Mauricio González-Aranda, Shabbir Showne, Amin Nawabi, Rashid Aitouganov, Jean-Pierre Pernaut
- Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Comments
- mssusanmarie-45561 - 24 November 2022
Inspiring
What a lovely surprise. This is such a well crafted telling of a true story that there's not a moment of lagging in it. I was glued to the screen the entire running time. I felt I had some idea of what it's really like to be a refugee after watching "Flee." I just wanted it to be longer. I want to know more about his life, and that of his other family members. "Flee" is also a warning about how we must always be on guard against all forms of authoritarian governments, lest we too find ourselves needing to flee. His sexuality was naturally woven into the web of the story, and it felt completely authentic. Such a good film. - mejara171 - 19 June 2022
Fascinating
There's something special when you see the movie because the main character lived the situations in the same way as the movie shows you. I don't have the words to describe this movie and the emotions that it creates. It's something that you have to watch to live it by yourself. - guskeller - 28 March 2022
Powerful
Flee is powerful. It's deeply heartbreaking because it addresses hard truths. Flee is the story of Amin, a refugee who escapes war-torn Afghanistan. His family immigrates to Russia, where they're still oppressed. From there, they attempt to reach salvation in Sweden. Along the way, Amin's family is abused and separated. His story addresses corruption, trafficking, and the lasting effects of trauma, yet remains grounded in personal relationships. Also, Amin's interviews are extremely vulnerable. He clearly hasn't opened up this much before, and his honest perspective is a genuine gift. Therefore, Flee is incredibly moving and truly illuminating.
Meanwhile, Flee is creatively delivered. Choosing to depict Amin's stories through animation, Flee feels timeless and universal. Animation is frequently a lighthearted medium, so it juxtaposes the horrors of its content. Meanwhile, this frees up the cinematography and editing for artistic expression. The sound has a deeper impact because it's the only literal connection to Amin. Plus, the style of the drawings changes depending on the clarity of the memory. It's this intentional look and expression of the animation that sets Flee apart and serves its messages. Ultimately, Flee isn't for the faint of heart, but will enlighten those who view it.
Writing: 10/10 Direction: 9/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Acting: 10/10 Editing: 8/10 Sound: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack: 8/10 Production Design: 8/10 Casting: 9/10 Effects: 9/10
Overall Score: 8.6/10.
