How does it feel to return after a long time abroad?
Do I want to return because I have to – or because I want to?
Migration is often understood as going to a new, unknown country. For many people, however, migration also means returning to a country they are very familiar with, their old home. Whether one decides to return voluntarily or is forced to return, the topic of return encompasses a wide range of questions about origin and belonging, integration, identity, and cultural and social influences.
Distilled (short documentary, 23min, D 2024) by Christopher Larson
Asmir was 15 when the war in Yugoslavia broke out. As a teenager, he emigrated to Germany in a cloak-and-dagger operation, carrying only a plastic bag full of personal belongings. That was 27 years ago. He grew up in Berlin and here he built a life as an entrepreneur: he distills his own spirits, runs a bar in the city, and has many ideas for how he would like to develop himself and his business.
Due to his busy life in Berlin, the question of his origins remained in the background for a long time. And yet, for many migrants, the question “What if I went back?” is always present, at least as a thought experiment: What if I return and no one I know is left in my hometown? What if everything has changed and nothing feels familiar anymore? Can roots also disappear after a long absence?
Born In Damascus (short film, 15min, UK 2021) by Laura Wadha
How does distance—both geographical and temporal—change our relationship to a place? Filmmaker Laura Wadha, born in Damascus, emigrated as a youngster at the start of the war in Syria in 2011. Since then, she and her family have been scattered across the globe. Laura lives in Scotland, her cousin Lujain in Canada. After more than 15 years of living elsewhere, they try to reconnect with their family history through video calls and shared memories. A very personal approach to what was once home: Syria.
Following the short films “Born in Damascus” and “Distilled,” videos from the current EU research project “GAPs – Decentring the study of migrant returns and readmission policies in Europe and beyond” and the series on “Return Migration” produced by Migration Matters e.V. will be presented.
The evening will combine film, a discussion with the protagonist Asmir and filmmaker Christopher Larson, a discussion prompt from migration expert Ruth Vollmer (Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies), and an exchange of knowledge and experiences among the audience.
Tuesday 27 January
6:00 – 8:00 pm at Yorck Kino
With support from
