Flee (2021) Neon/Documentary RT: 90 minutes Rated PG-13 (thematic content, disturbing images, strong language) Director: Jonas Poher Rasmussen Screenplay: Jonas Poher Rasmussen and Amin Music: Uno Helmersson Cinematography: Mauricio Gonzalez-Aranda Release date: December 3, 2021 (US) Cast: Amin Nawabi, Daniel Karimyar, Fardin Mijdzadeh. Spoken in Danish, Dari and Russian w/English subtitles
Rating: ****
I never expected to be so moved by Flee, an animated documentary about an Afghan refugee confronting his past and sharing his story for the first time. The thrice-nominated film has already made its mark on cinematic history by becoming the first to be nominated for Best International Feature, Best Documentary and Best Animated Feature simultaneously. I can see it winning at least one of those Oscars, Best Documentary most likely.
The protagonist of Flee calls himself “Amin Nawabi”, but that’s not his real name. It’s an alias to protect his true identity. His animated image has been altered and some details have been changed as well. It’s likely his life would be in jeopardy if his real identity was known. It’s a testament to his bravery that he’s willing to tell his story despite his fears of retaliation by the government of the country from which he fled as a young boy. It’s not just that he left Afghanistan illegally. Amin also happens to be gay which is considered taboo in his culture. It’s an aspect of himself that he even keeps hidden from his family. His inability to openly admit his sexuality affects his relationship with his partner Kaspar. Their impending marriage is the main reason he decides to finally to talk about his past.
Amin tells his story not to Kaspar, but to director Jonas Poher Rasmussen who he met on a bus in Denmark when they were teens in the 90s. Jonas starts out by asking Amin what “home” means to him. Amin replies, “Home is somewhere safe.” Then he closes his eyes and takes us back to his childhood in Afghanistan around the time of the Soviet withdrawal and subsequent hostile takeover by the Mujahideen.
His memories are fragmented and obscured due to trauma and repression. His father was taken to prison by Mujahideen soldiers and disappeared a few months later. His remaining family- mother, brother and two sisters- escape to Russia where they live in constant fear of being sent back. They also have to deal with corrupt police who regularly shake down illegal immigrants. He and his family’s first attempt to escape to freedom via human traffickers ends in a long stint in a squalid asylum center in Estonia. They’re sent back to Russia where it’s then decided that Amin should go it alone. This time, it’s a success. He ends up in Denmark where he starts a new life while still haunted by the memories of his old one.
Rasmussen makes excellent use of the short running time (90 minutes) by filling Flee with many unforgettable images. One of the earliest is 9YO Amin dancing through the streets of his village wearing his sister’s nightgown while listening to A-Ha’s “Take on Me” on a pink Walkman. He imbues many of the images with a palpable sense of claustrophobia. You can practically feel a panic attack coming on when Amin is confined to a shipping container with several other refugees en route to Estonia. In Russia, he’s trapped in a depressing apartment with his brother and mother, their only solace being a Mexican telenovela on TV. The sight of a young female immigrant in the back of a police van gives off an uncomfortable vibe as it’s obvious she’s about to be violated by the cops. Not all of Flee is such a nightmare. There’s a sweet moment just after Amin finally comes out to his siblings. I won’t describe it; you’ll know it when it happens.
Flee also takes the time to show how Amin’s past trauma affects his present, his relationship with Kaspar in particular. He’s reluctant to commit to buying a house in the country with him. He claims his work on his doctorate will keep him away for months at a time, but deep down it’s more than that. He’s scared of being hurt. Rasmussen handles this with great care, never once using it to make some grand statement about being gay. It’s only one facet of Amin’s character.
The animation in Flee is exquisite. Animator Kenneth Ladekjaer beautifully captures all the details of Amin; the way he moves, gestures and speaks. It’s hand-drawn which makes it especially beautiful. It’s beautiful even when showing something ugly or frightening. This was clearly the right way for Rasmussen to go as I would have been impossible to effectively recreate the more harrowing events in Amin’s life.
Flee is an outstanding film. It’s consistently compelling and connects strongly with the viewer on an emotional level. It’s also visceral in terms of imagery. It works on every level. Most importantly, Amin is a sympathetic and relatable person. We feel for him as he tells his life story. It never sounds like he’s looking for pity either. All he wants is understanding. Isn’t that what we all want? In opening up to his friend and (by proxy) all of us, he’s made that difficult first step towards healing. Good luck to him.
