Limbo

Greetings again from the darkness. Immigration is an important and hot topic these days, and it should be noted that most countries have challenges with people either trying to get in or trying to get out ... and for some, it's both. Writer-director Ben Sharrock offers a unique and creative look at refugees stuck on a nameless remote Scottish island, awaiting word on their UK asylum request.

Omar (Amir El-Masry, Tom Clancy's "Jack Ryan" TV series) has escaped the war in Syria, and we learn much about him from listening in on calls to his mother from the only phone booth on the island. An acclaimed musician in Damascus, Omar lugs around his grandfather's oud ("it's like a guitar"). As proof of his homesickness, the bulky case never leaves his side, nor does he pull the instrument out to play - music is meant for joyous occasions. Omar shares a small house with three other refugees: Farhad (Vikash Bhai) from Afghanistan, Abedi (Kwabena Ansah) from Ghana, and Wasef (Ola Orebiyi) from Nigeria, with the latter two posing as brothers in hopes of improving their odds for asylum.

Omar is a sullen stone-face who absorbs the racist taunts from young locals (they ask if he makes bombs), and stands in contrast to the more outgoing and optimistic (and darn funny) Farhad. Not only does he idolize Freddie Mercury for "teaching" him English, Farhad, with his ever-present cigarette, also captures a chicken and keeps it as a pet. These refugees regularly attend a class entitled "Cultural Awareness 101", meant to acclimate those from varying backgrounds to the local customs and culture. These segments are mined beautifully for comedic effect, while also giving us insight into all those involved. There are also references to Chet Baker, Donnie Osmond, and the TV series, "Friends".

This is a terrific film, as well as an odd one. Many of the shots from cinematographer Nick Cooke are static and sparse in style, and though focused on the individuals, the camera also captures much of the isolation of the island. These visuals are stunning in both their simplicity and relevance. It's a dramedy unafraid to be absurd in a moment, while also being enlightening. At times it has the feel of Wes Anderson without the color palette. We aren't sure what is worse, the weather or the local postal service. Brutal cold envelops the newcomers, while the delivery route of a postal van (and the reactions of the refugees) is a comedic highlight. Even the local market, with its limited spice selection and directions for urination, draws laughter from us.

Despite the comedy, we never lose sight of these folks being stuck in purgatory. Maybe it's not true camaraderie, but they seem to take some comfort in numbers as they wait. Omar is carrying guilt and feelings of inadequacy as he chose to leave while his older brother Nabil (Kais Nashif) remained in Syria to fight in the war. There is a wonderful "scene" that allows Omar to make peace with their contrasting decisions, and it leads him back to playing music. After all, "a musician who doesn't play is dead". The titular term of Limbo often means stuck, and there is also a game of persistence that uses that name, and both definitions work here. We are reminded that regardless of the various cultures, those in the immigration system have their own personal stories and burdens.

Opens in theaters on April 30, 2021.

"You ever think about who you were before all of this?"

Limbo is a wry and poignant observation of the refugee experience, set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather's oud, the king of Arabic music instruments, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. The trailer for this intrigued me. It set up to be a Wes Anderson or Taika Waititi film in style and humor. Marketing failed on this one. Limbo is definitely a drama. And I really liked it. To me, this feels like a First Cow type of film with an early release in the year that showcases some of the best so far. Ben Sharrock actually was nominated for two BAFTAs earlier this year for the categories of Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, and Producer, and also in Outstanding British Film. Clearly, there's a lot to offer. The writing is very good. A few scenes we get those witty moments that make it somewhat comedic. I really liked those and it brought us into a happy place for some time. The rest may be dramatic and touching in more serious areas, but the writing also stands out here. The execution still feels sort of like a Wes Anderson style at points, but more if he were to do a full-fledged drama. With the breathtaking cinematography in effective aspect ratios, the vision is direct. It captures the coldness of the setting and story. I'd love to see the cinematography get some recognition at some point.

The acting is different in a good way. It's not necessarily deadpan, but it's not bursting with emotion. It's just right to get that feeling that they're in limbo (yes I made a pun there). Amir El-Masry is really good and I'd love to see him in more roles. He captures the right emotion and feeling of nothingness. Other characters such as Boris and Helga provide the lighter tone giving some hope. I think there was a little struggle of finding the right style with both execution and acting. Although done well, there are scenes and pacing issues that show this. It's slow paced and could've been cut down just a little. I can see some getting bored, especially if they think the trailer will be a good representation of the film. I agree that it could've been faster at certain points in the story. Some scenes need that pacing to let the message resonate. For what it's worth, though, I can go with what it is. This off-kilter film is one that will stick with me for some time. I'm excited to see Limbo again and whatever Sharrock makes in the future.

A tale of those lost in seemingly perpetual transition, left in the dark, outcast, isolated and alone, as the dehumanising process of asylum seeking is dissected with great humour, empathy, sorrow and loss - outstanding!

The writer / director achieved what I can call the hero change from within , where the protagonist took the same open road at the end but the journey changed him completely. From my humble opinion, this is how a festival film should look like. Although a lot of films tried to tackle the Syrian refugee case but this film was totally different, using filmmaking to tell the story in an artistic and sarcastic way.

Limbo is a very tough watch. It explores the lives of asylum seekers who await the outcome of their applications while housed on a remote Scottish island. Which as you can imagine is a saddening subject matter.

Despite these overall notes of despair and sadness, this film is injected with numerous moments of warmth and hope, and even humour. It is perfectly played with a sharp and smart script and stunning cinematography.

The characters, particularly the lead Omar, are very well written. The acting from Amir El Masry in this lead role was great. A very accomplished performance.

A great film and a perfect execution of a concept that could have been awfully misjudged.