Freedom comes at deadly price in Flee

by Kathia Woods

Flee, a documentary by Jonas Poher Rasmusen is an articulate story of identity and survival told through animation. It's also a story about a brave immigrant—a well-educated man who fled Afghanistan as a teenager for Denmark. Amid the subject had kept the details of his past private from his circle, including Rasmussen, who had known Amin since they met on a local train ride when they were teenagers. Retelling this story begins with Amir's first memory of ripping through the streets of Kabul while Aha's "Take on Me" plays in the background. He's dressed in one of his sisters' dresses, but as soon as he starts talking, he becomes hesitant. He finds it difficult to recall even as an adult with a distinguished career and a loving partner.

The audience will understand why there is apprehension as the film moves along. Amir has been through a lot in his quest for freedom. We must remember that the last time he told his story, it was to a Boyfriend who abused his trust against him. As a result, he is naturally cautious when retelling his story. His story is one of many who risk everything for freedom, which is frequently overlooked in immigration debates.

He is telling his story to show the horror he endured in exchange for this priceless freedom and free himself from the burdens of the past.

It's difficult to understand how Amin was able to maintain his faith in the face of so many obstacles, and as viewers, it's often difficult to follow, but that discomfort makes us appreciate life itself.

Afghanistan's communist government kidnaped his father in the 1980s, and he has a lot of pain to draw from that. He was never seen again by the family. When the Islamist mujahedeen government came to power in the 1990s, he and his loved ones were forced to flee. The family had to relocate to post-Soviet Moscow because of the takeover. They were in financial difficulty there; Amin and his family attempted to flee Russia several times through smuggled means. These attempts are among the film's most heartbreaking scenes.

In another harrowing scene from the film, Amin's sister and a group of refugees nearly perish after being stuffed into a shipping container bound for Sweden. In another case, dozens of immigrants, including Amin, are forced to march through a forest at night before being transported inside a small boat abandoned in the middle of the Baltic Sea while it is raining. They mistakenly believe that the approaching rescue boat will save them only to transport them to Estonia and then to Russia.

The images conjure up scenes of the current border crisis. Amin's story continues to be a harrowing display of survival. While the scenes of his escape to freedom are captivating, the film also deals with Amin coming to terms with his sexuality. His self-doubt and attempts to cure his homosexuality are sad but understandable.  In the film, he receives an unexpected olive branch at a crucial juncture. It's from his older brother, apparently. Acceptance is demonstrated by taking him to a gay bar and paying for his entertainment. Amin came to the realization that he and his family will be OK at that precise moment.

Flee is one of those rare films that stays with you long after you've seen it. The story is heartbreaking and moving. Do not be put off by the animation; this is a serious film that deserves to be considered in all major categories when the time comes for awards.