The enthralling journey behind the construction of 'To a Land Unknown,' directed by Palestinian-Danish filmmaker Mahdi Fleifel, is just as fascinating as the film itself. The film, shot rapidly in Greece, began production within a month after the Hamas attacks on October 7th and astonishingly premiered at Cannes just half a year later.
The movie investigates the unstable and uncertain reality of Palestinian refugees trapped in Athens, stuck in a limbo between an unattainable homeland and an unfamiliar new world.
The film's protagonists, best friends Chatila (Mahmood Bakri) and Reda (Aram Sabbah) epitomize this limbo. First introduced as seemingly idle youths in a park, it soon becomes clear they are on a desperate mission to steal enough money to buy counterfeit passports and start a fresh life in Germany.
Their days are spent aimlessly in a graffiti-coated squat shared with other migrants. Their time is spent skating around the city, or in Reda's case, succumbing to the grips of heroin. Fleifel's portrayal of their world is unflinching and harsh. Though portrayed with dreams and desires analogous to any young men, their choices and mobility are crippled by the situation in Palestine and stringent European immigration policies.
As they help a young Palestinian boy, Malik (Mohammad Alsurafa), join his aunt in Italy, a trace of the plot takes shape. The battle for survival escalates as the duo encounter various challenges, encapsulating dire conditions refugees often endure.
Set against the grimy streets and squats of Athens, the film bypasses the quintessential Greek tourist sites, underscoring the harsh reality of those whose lives hang in the balance.
Despite the bleak narrative, 'To a Land Unknown' offers a poignant perspective on cultural pride intertwined with survival. One such instance is the recital of verses by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, mistaken for rap lyrics, reflecting the depth of struggle faced by the main characters, Chatila, Reda and countless others. Fleifel's narrative exposes the bleak reality of exile, the daily struggles of survival, the toll on an individual and ultimately, the inevitability of their situation.
