Limbo

This story of a Syrian refugee awaiting resettlement on a remote Scottish island is at once heart-wrenching and humorous.

Omar is a talented oud player but can’t seem to enjoy playing the instrument; perhaps he is stifled by guilt, having abandoned his homeland and family for safety in the West. Like him, other refugees feel the pangs of dislocation – they spend their days musing on the past, debating pop culture or suffering through awkward cultural-awareness training. But for them, as for the Scottish locals, culture clash is arduous as much as it is a source of growth.

Writer/director Ben Sharrock’s second feature – which screened to rave reviews at the Toronto, Zurich and London film festivals – depicts the plight of asylum seekers living through the purgatory of relocation. Limbo is that rare work that balances meticulous observation with deadpan comedy, irreverence with insight, and has even drawn parallels with the pensive work of Elia Suleiman. Set against breathtaking shots of the Outer Hebrides location, this film is a revealing portrayal of the universal search for belonging.

“A sweet and touching rumination on the quest to belong in an empty world … Sharrock’s script excels at piercing the whimsical story with astute observation.” – IndieWire