Ad of the Day: Asylum Aid releases harrowing film about the refugee experience
Asylum Aid, a charity that represents and provides free legal advice to people seeking refuge in the UK, has released a distressing short film that shows just how difficult the refugee experience can be.
Created by Red Brick Road, the video gives viewers a glimpse of what some refugees face when they go through the application process. This film in particular focuses on a woman named Nina who finds herself struggling to answer the incredibly intrusive questions she’s being asked during the interview portion of the process.
After commenting that Nina “doesn’t look like a lesbian,” the interviewer goes on to ask her what she thinks the church would say about her sexuality. He then begins to pressure her to recall gruesome details about her rape, asking her to describe “how long it lasted” and whether or not she fought her attacker off or told authorities. She struggles to answer him as she fights through tears.
“Some stories are too hard to relive even when your life depends on it,” reads text at the end of the film. “An Asylum Aid lawyer ensures there is one thing the vulnerable shouldn’t be. Alone.”
According Rattling Stick, the production company behind the film, Nina’s interview was based on real transcripts from refugees that Asylum Aid has supported in the UK.
“As soon as I read the scripts from the agency I wanted to be involved in the project,” said David Edwards, director of the film, in a statement. “At the time there was so much controversy in the press surrounding asylum seekers and it felt like this film could play a small part in balancing people’s misconceptions of their plight. These are vulnerable people that need help. There will always be those that abuse the system, but the majority are honest people that have suffered unimaginable hardship and injustice that need to be given a chance for a better life.”
The film is running throughout March in DCM Cinemas.
