Flee (2020)

This is a documentary about a specific thing (a refugee and his sotry) and a greater thing (what is citizenship? Who belongs and who does not? The legacy of colonialism is the gift that keeps on giving). It has the possibility of being nominated in the categories of International Film, Animated feture film, and documentary film--this is not a stretch, as it is on the short list for the two that have a short list. The Danish filmmaker became friends with a similarly aged Afghan refugee named Amin. Amin had fled Afghanistan after the Mujahideen grew more powerful during the First Afghan Civil War of the 1980s and 1990s, and arrived in Copenhagen alone. His family had previously fled Iran with the fall of the Shah, and highlighted for me that before we had colonialism we had empire building, and the shared language between Iran and Afghanistan connect them though the Ottoman Empire to this day. The two became friends, staying in touch as Rasmussen pursued filmmaking and as Amin pursued his doctoral degree. When they reconnect for this project, it’s as adults ready to look back upon the past with a mixture of honesty, wistfulness, patience and resignation on Amin's part and curiosity in Rasmussen's case. The animation is sparse but fits the story, and there is live footage interspersed throughout, reminding us that this really did happen, it isn't just a story. This is a must watch film from this year, beautifully told and memorable.