‘Saleem’ – a Jordanian film directed by Cynthia Madanat Sharaiha’

Reviewed by Carolyn Madanat

Having followed the journey of ‘Saleem’ – from conception to its selection at the acclaimed Annecy Film Festival earlier this year – it was a joy to finally watch it this week at the Chichester International Film Festival. I should declare at the outset a conscious bias: the film’s writer and director, Cynthia Sharaiha, is my much loved and admired sister-in-law. I knew that the project that she and the Digitales team have poured themselves into over the last several years would be exceptional, and it did not disappoint.

The story of Saleem and his family, forced to flee their home to escape the horrors of war, and dealing with the devastating loss of their father, touched me on so many levels. Living in Jordan at the beginning of the Syrian conflict, I witnessed first-hand the suffering and hardship of multiple refugee families who made torturous journeys in search of safety. More than ten years later, many are still facing uncertainty and the ongoing impact of trauma; yet there is a resilience that has carried them through, and which is visible in the characters of this film.

As a children’s film, it is less concerned with the brutality of war than with the long journey of recovery for a young boy whose childhood has been ravaged. Guided on his way by an anchor motif symbolising steadfast hope, Saleem is encouraged to face his pain and fears with the help of teachers, neighbours, and family. There is no quick fix when it comes to healing from trauma, but the film shows that with time, and the support of loving friends and family, there is a way forward and a chance for hope to be restored. In an age where independence is idolised in many cultures, Saleem is an important reminder that community and sharing our lives with others is a precious gift and opportunity.

I hope that this film will get the wide viewing it deserves. It will bring comfort and hope to those who are living their own story of loss and has the potential to increase compassion and understanding in those who have yet to face such experiences.–

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