Watch Limbo

Limbo is an indie film that explores the experience of refugees stuck in a small Scottish island while awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications. The movie centers on Omar, a Syrian oud player, who is struggling to find a way out of Limbo, along with his fellow migrants. The opening scene shows Omar (played by Amir El-Masry) playing his oud on a beach with his headphones on, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. The camera pans out, and we see him standing alone in the vast landscape of the island. This sets the tone for the rest of the film, where we see Omar and his fellow refugees grappling with issues of identity, belonging, and isolation.

As the story unfolds, we learn more about the characters and their reasons for leaving their countries. Omar left Syria after his family was killed in a bomb attack, and he had to escape to save his own life. There's Farhad (Vikash Bhai), an Afghan translator, who is haunted by the memories of helping American soldiers during the war. He's struggling to come to terms with the fact that he may have betrayed his own people. Then there's Wasef (Ola Orebiyi), a Nigerian who dreams of becoming a rapper but feels out of place in the conservative community of the island.

The movie's pace is deliberately slow, allowing us to get to know the characters and their struggles intimately. The island's desolate landscape and the almost meditative soundtrack add to the sense of isolation and melancholy. The humor in the film is dry, understated, and at times, serves as a release for the characters' pent-up emotions.

One of the standout performances in the movie is by Sidse Babett Knudsen, who plays Ghalia, a Syrian woman who arrives on the island with her husband and baby. Ghalia speaks no English, and her husband is unresponsive, leaving her to navigate the asylum system alone. Knudsen portrays Ghalia's anguish and determination with nuance, and her character's storyline adds a different dimension to the film's exploration of refugees' experiences.

Kenneth Collard's character, Boris, a hapless, offbeat immigration officer, adds a touch of absurdity to the movie. Boris is tasked with teaching the refugees 'Britishness' and the Queen's English, a task that he's ill-equipped to handle. His attempts at teaching the refugees how to queue or make small talk over cups of tea make for some of the movie's funniest moments.

Limbo is a film that makes you question your own assumptions and preconceived notions about refugees. The movie doesn't shy away from the harsh realities that refugees face, but it also highlights their resilience and humanity. It's a film that's both sobering and heart-warming, and one that sticks with you long after it's over.

In conclusion, Limbo is a beautifully shot and acted movie that tells a powerful story about the refugee experience. It's a film that's relevant, given the ongoing humanitarian crisis that's unfolding in various parts of the world. The fact that this film exists is a testament to the power of artistic expression and its ability to move us, challenge us, and make us more empathetic human beings.

Limbo is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 83.