The director Mahmoud Hasan’s second documentary at Syrian Doc Days, as he was here on the first edition 7 years ago with his film “Stories Beyond Torture”
“This Sea is Mine” is a touching documentary film directed by Mahmoud Hasan, which follows the story of six Syrian survivors on their journey to find safety. Each of them in turn tells about their own difficult decision to flee the brutal war in their home country. These stories intertwine as they face the sea, which is their destiny and their last chance to escape the hell of war and build a new life for their families.
The film depicts how some managed to reach asylum with their families, while others lost their loved ones on this difficult journey. The film’s witnesses recall their bitter experiences, which reach deep into the layers of memories. They tell about their homeland, their homes, their towns and villages, the streets they walked on as children, and the parks and gardens where they played. They remember the bloody and brutal images of the war, which have been etched in their memory and turned into motivation to reach a new land. They also recall an asylum-seeking route where they crossed several countries and experienced a sense of exile, with only the sea in front of them – an adventure with only two options: arrive or die.
“This Sea is Mine” offers its viewers a deep and moving look at the experiences of refugees, highlighting human survival, hope and courage in the midst of despair.
