Movies of War

The odyssey immigrants face as they try to escape deadly dangers in their countries has been repeatedly recorded in cinema, particularly in recent years. Viktor Nordenskiöld also tracks such a journey, this time that of two Syrian teenagers, Hazim and Said, with the latter being a disabled young man who cannot move without the help of a wheelchair. This, however, is anything but a sad story. Lust for Life is screening at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival The two eventually arrive in Germany in 2015, where they are taken in by a family whose son, Marius, like Said, also uses a wheelchair, although his health issues are much more dire. Over the next ten years, the two young men from Syria gain a new family and become acquainted with a different culture, while simultaneously coming to terms with the past and the lives they left behind. Viktor Nordenskiöld’s approach is predominantly cheerful, with the music enhancing this tone as much as the boys’ sense of humor. At the same time, whenever the camera turns to the two Syrians and they begin speaking about their past or trying to find out what is happening back home, the direness of their situation comes to the fore. This combination ultimately emerges as one of the documentary’s strongest traits. Furthermore, the way Hazim and Said begin caring for Marius is a true wonder to watch, while their cohabitation sends a powerful message about the intertwined realities of immigrants and people with disabilities. As the documentary follows all three protagonists through the years, a rather pleasant narrative unfolds without ever becoming idyllic. The mental struggles Hazim faces, the health issues affecting Said, and the permanent condition Marius must deal with remain integral to the story. Nevertheless, the love the three share, and the way they gradually become a family in the truest sense of the word, form another central strength. This overall positivity, along with the hopeful closing note of the story, is further heightened by developments in Syria, particularly the news of the removal of Bashar al-Assad. The editing by Maria Hemmleb and Viktor Nordenskiöld proves effective in connecting the various aspects of the documentary, with its greatest achievement lying in maintaining a delicate balance that prevents the narrative from becoming either overly idyllic or excessively dramatic and sentimental, while narrating a rather appealing story. Ultimately, “Lust for Life” is a very competent documentary that highlights a remarkable story without omitting its broader context, thus illuminating both the concept of immigration and the lives of people with disabilities in a realistic and humane manner. Tags:Lust for LifeThessaloniki Documentary FestivalViktor Nordenskiold