Flee

Flee
Starring Amin Nawabi, Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh, Belal Faiz
Directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen

There has been heated debate in America for years now about the issue of refugees who come to America from war-torn countries and whether or not we should let them in, depending on which side of the aisle you attend to. While we tend to politicize this heated topic, we tend to forget that this isn't just a talking point for political figureheads - this is about real lives, real people, and real stakes. Imagine what it would take for you to uproot your entire life - your home, your family, your safety, your comfort - and literally flee to an unknown fate: how would you feel if that happened to you? What would you go through both emotionally and physically during that time, and how would you be able to trust anyone again when it seems that the whole world is literally out to get you? "Flee" is a hugely timely documentary centering on one man's journey out of civil war-torn Afghanistan in hopes for a better life, and all the struggles and hardships that both he and his family endured during that time - and now we see this happening in real time on our television sets as the people of Ukraine are becoming dispersed and fleeing their homeland as Russia wreaks havoc on them.

"Flee" centers around a man named Amin Nawabi (a pseudonym, as he's still in hiding in fear of him and his family being caught) who is being interviewed by his friend in Denmark who's also a filmmaker and who wants to tell Amin's story. Told through animation to keep his anonymity, "Flee" is a heart-wrenching and powerful documentary that gives an unflinching look at what it means to be a refugee and the issues that last long after you find a new home, as well as Amin's struggle with his homosexuality as he's surrounded in a world where it's not just looked down upon, but could mean the end of his life.

"Flee" is a visually unique film in that it's told almost entirely through animation to keep Amin and his family safe from the Afghan Mujahideen, who took Amin's father when he was a young boy and what led to him and his family fleeing their homeland. The animation not only keeps his identity secret, but also provides a unique way to tell his story that's far removed from the traditional documentary film style (akin to 2008's Lebanon documentary film "Waltz With Bashir") that adds a more cinematic nuance as well as a more deeply introspective feel. Oftentimes we remember things vaguely, with snippets missing that tend to connect experiences together, and sometimes we remember things with a hazy afterthought and even in black-and-white.

"Flee" takes full advantage of their animated storytelling by heightening Amin's tale, as you sense the different tones simply by the animation style. Whenever something bad happens in Amin's past, the animation goes from vivid and colorful to simple black-and-white chalk-like outlines and scary visuals, much like something happening through a kid's eyes. Then there's the bright, shining moments of Amin's memory of him playing volleyball with his brother, flying a kite, his mother's kisses, and fantasizing about Jean Claude Van Damme. When he and his family flee, the film changes tone with darker, dreary animations as they travel to Russia in a rickety boat filled with other refugees that's easily the film's best visuals, and as they hide out in Russia every day is a dark, dreary day as they live in constant fear of being deported back to Afghanistan.

Far from the animation, the characters within are also given new life due to the style. Amin goes from a child to an adult, and you see the tension, the doubt, the fear, and the insecurity in his young eyes as he grows from a child to a teenager and adult, struggling with finding someone to trust due to all the villains he's seen in his young life, especially the traffickers who deceive him and his family. It's heart-wrenching to see this young man trying to find love but telling the story about a previous boyfriend and the terrors that he endured with him, as well as his own struggle with wanting to come out to his family but incredibly fearful of the result. More than just a refugee, Amin is a prisoner in his own mind, which he finds almost impossible to flee from.

"Flee" made history at the Academy Awards by being the only film to be nominated for Best Animated Feature (which will probably lose out to by "Encanto"), Best Foreign Film (which will probably lose to "Drive My Car"), and Best Documentary (which will probably lose to "Summer of Soul"), and it's easy to understand why the Academy would honor such a unique, visionary work. It's a small, subtle film that will burrow into your soul and leave you with a deep appreciation of Amin and his family, and the great lengths they went through in order to find a better life, and the turmoil and tension that happened along the way.

Telling the story through unique animation style, "Flee" is more than just a generic documentary, but it sheds light on the oft-forgotten refugee crisis that's as prevalent today as it was back then, giving insight into the indelible spirit of freedom and what a family will do in order to find safety and security far from their homeland.

The Score: A+