Watani: My Homeland (2016) User Reviews

The way it should be

[Horst_In_Translation · 6/10 · 22 February 2017]

"Watani: My Homeland" is a 40-minute documentary short film from 2016 directed by German filmmaker Marcel Mettelsiefen. This one managed to score an Oscar nomination and is of course the filmmaker's biggest success now. Because of Mettelsiefen's nationality and also because of the contents of the movie this was shown as an episode of the German television series "Auslandsjournal" recently. It depicts the life of a Syrian family whose father/husband was kidnapped by ISIS. Living in constant danger, the wife and children decide flee from Syria and move to the German city of Goslar and we see how they become part of the German society, how the kids go to school, adapt to life in Germany, but also about how they are still missing their husband. And about the question if and how they should continue to live their religion in their new country. And about the question in which ways Germany can replace Syria as their homeland or if it even should. I personally think this is a good documentary. I probably would not say it is among the best of the year, but I am not surprised either about the Oscar nomination as this subject may be right up America's alley. Will it win? Maybe, even if I would not say it is the front runner. Maybe it would have needed the family moving to the United States in order to be even more appreciated by the Oscars. But the subject sure is a relevant one and also not the only film about refugees from this year's documentary short nominees. This one here is more about the individual fate of a family and not about the big problem as a whole. Anyway, I am critical about one thing, namely the mother's decision to star in this film. Sure it is brave and will manage to get attention to her case, but honestly, if there is any way ISIS finds out about the film and its success in the western world, then there is no way she will ever see her husband again. Then again, he has probably been dead for a long time anyway. As for the movie, it's an okay watch and I recommend checking it out. Oh yeah, quick note about the title of my review: This is the perfect example of people who really do deserve to be taken in as refugees. It is not always the case and sometimes horrible crimes are committed by people getting in as refugees (Breitscheidplatz), but the family here are a prime example of people who deserve to be taken in.

A transformation caught on camera

[Obi-Wan-22 · 10/10 · 12 February 2017]

Few people have used 40 minutes to capture more than "Watani: My Homeland." This a harrowing short documentary where the filmmakers allowed themselves to be taken wherever their subjects went. Whether that be the hell-fire of battle, the playful streets of a child, the first day in a foreign land or the empty coffee table of a lover whose lost her lover. The movie lucks out with its fascinating, playful and soul-bearing subjects. And the movie lives with them. At no point did I feel manipulated to make a political stand; manipulated to make a definitive decision; or manipulated to feel for anyone. The movie, like all great documentaries, offers a lens of truth and allows the viewers to be with these brave people for a short period of time. We are allowed to take from it what we will and are not demanded to side with the filmmakers. And what I took away were feelings of loss, sadness, joy with pain, pain with love, freedom and above all hope. This family transforms before our eyes, but never truly leaves their Watani.