A Place to Call Home

Available in Docs for Sale after the world premiere at IDFA.

A father and his two daughters have left Iran, and after a circuitous journey via Wales and the Netherlands, they arrive in Sweden, where they explore their new home. There are cozy rooms, a good hot meal and a splashing shower. The images emphasize the desire to feel at home, yet the main characters don’t seem to have arrived completely.

After all, where is the rest of their family, and where are their friends? They are only present in photos on the wall, in memories and in snatches of music that hark back to their former life. The two girls read books and play, but are mostly bored. Even at the cinema they keep changing seats, apparently unable to escape their restlessness.

The family switches between English, Persian and Dutch. Without going into the vast issue of immigration, this dreamlike short film shows the day-to-day situation of people who end up in a foreign country against their will and have to readjust to yet another new environment, and the feelings of isolation and disorientation this brings.