Nowhere in Europe

A documentary by Kerstin Nickig

A German/ Polish coproduction by time prints and Metro Films in cooperation with ZDF/3sat and TVP S.A.

Trailer:

Trailer

Film website:

www.nowhere-in-europe.eu

Production details:

Country/ Year:

Germany, Poland/ 2009

Original title:

Kein Ort

English title:

Nowhere in Europe

Original language:

Chechen, Russian

Subtitles:

German, English

Genre:

Creative documentary - Human Interest

Content:

Chechen fugitives in Europe

Length/ Format:

60 and 98 minutes/ HD

Premiere:

10/2009, DOK Leipzig

Festivals:

DOK Leipzig 2009, Visions du Reel 2010, GoEast 2010, Verzio FF Budapest 2010, Pravo Ljudski Sarajevo 2010, Watch Docs Warsaw 2010, Document 8 Glasgow 2010, This Human World Vienna 2010, Movies that Matter Amsterdam 2011, One World Prague 2011, Paris International Film Festival on Human Rights 2011, Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Kyiv 2011

Awards:

Special Commendation, Kategorie TV Iris, Pix Europa, Berlin 2010; Best Documentary, Pravo Ljudski, Sarajevo 2010; Special Mention, Watch Docs Warsaw, 2010

Synopsis:

NOWHERE IN EUROPE is a documentary exploring the effects of the European refugee policy experienced on four Chechnyan refugees and their families.

„As Salam Aleikum, Europa“ – these are the first words in Ali`s diary, which the former journalist writes while he is waiting for a decision on his asylum status in Poland. He has plenty of time to write down his observations and thoughts about Europe and his own identity crisis, while sitting in his smoky room in the refugee home.

Wacha (50) has been granted asylum status in Austria as a political activist, but his son is persecuted in Russia. He will try everything to bring him to Europe.

Tamara (55) is living in Vienna with her husband and daughter. Their disabled daughter desperately needs medical attention, but the family is under constant threat of deportation.

Ruslan (33) is stuck in the Ukraine without legal documents or money. He is hoping to bring his family to Western Europe in the near future.

Each of the protagonists had to flee Chechnya, because their lives were at risk. As refugees in Europe they encounter new problems while confronting state bureaucracy. How can I prove who I really am? That something really happened to me? And, furthermore, does anybody even care?

Over the period of one year, the author follows the main characters presenting an intimate glimpse of their search for a new home in Europe, successfully portraying their hopes, fears, and desires.

Credits:

Director:

Kerstin Nickig

D.o.P.:

Piotr Rosolowski, Jakub Bejnarowicz, André Frenzel

Editor:

Karoline Schulz

Producer:

Michael Truckenbrodt, Marcin Wierzchoslawski, Jazak Kucharski

Co-production:

Metro Films, Warschau

Comissioning Editor:

Udo Bremer (ZDF/3sat), Barbara Paciorkowska (TVP S.A.)

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