Who has to go? Who is allowed to come?
Ten years after the so-called “summer of migration” in 2015, the theme evening GOING focuses on experiences of flight. In the documentary “The Mind Game” a young Afghan shares his personal perspective on what it really means to walk 5,500 km and make your way to Europe. He documented his journey, which was much more than a “mind game” for him, with his cell phone camera and reflected on it years later.
“The Mind Game” co-directed by Dutch directors Eefje Blankevoort and Els van Driel with Sajid Khan Nasiri and awarded at festivals worldwide, tells the story of 15-year-old SK (Sajid Khan Nasiri)’s journey. It is a migration story that leads from Afghanistan via Iran, Turkey, and the Balkan route to Belgium. The young SK approaches his journey like a “game” in which he, as the “hero” tirelessly tries to advance level by level.
Two years and many obstacles later, he arrives in Belgium, where he is confronted with new challenges: the authorities’ mistrust towards unaccompanied minor refugees and the feeling of being alone in the end: alone with his experiences of flight and the great distance from home – psychological burdens that many refugees in Germany are still exposed to today.
The emotional and mental effects of refugee experiences still remain an underreported issue.
For many migrants, the routes to Europe are oftentimes not direct, but rather characterised by uncertainty and detours, dependence on smugglers, and often the arbitrariness of authorities. Solidarity and support from people encountered along the way are always crucial. Safe and regular entry into Europe is difficult – especially for those who most urgently need protection. One of the greatest political challenges remains to effectively protect refugees who have made their way to Europe and thus make a humane European asylum system a reality. In a discussion accompanying the film, we’ll explore what these challenges look like in politics and practice and what would make an effective difference for those affected.
The evening combines the film screening, discussion prompts from migration experts, and an exchange of knowledge and experience among the audience.
Thursday, October 30 6:00 pm
Delphi Lux Kino, Berlin
With support from
