SEA OF SORROW - SEA OF HOPE 

Manal lives in Syria with her three children. A run-in with ISIS leading to death threats forces Manal to flee the country. She leaves her children behind, thinking they will be able to reunite, once she has reached Europe. However, after 10 long months in Denmark, she learns that she cannot apply for family reunification for another three years.

 

Manal decides to save her children. With the help of a smuggler, the children embark on the long journey from Syria to Denmark. They constantly update Manal by phone, also as they board a small boat to take them from Turkey to Greece. Then suddenly, the line goes dead – their boat has capsized. The Red Cross sends her photographs of drowned children, asking if they are hers.

 

After 9 long days, Manal learns, that her children have survived and are in prison in Turkey. She has no choice but to arrange yet another hazardous attempt to cross the sea, and another illegal journey to Denmark. After one year apart, the family is finally reunited.

 

Release: 19th of June 2018 (Denmark)

Duration: 28 minutes

Genre: Documentary short

Spoken languages: Arabic, English and Danish

 

Director: Estephan Wagner and Marianne Hougen-Moraga

Cinematography: Estephan Wagner and Simon Plum

Editor: Estephan Wagner

Sound Design: Henrik ’Gugge’ Garnov

Composer: Roger Goula

Producers: Lise Lense-Møller

Production Country: Denmark

Production Company: Magic Hour Films

Produced for and supported by UNCHR