SHADOW GAME

Netherlands | 2021 | 90 min

Recommended age 14+

A choral narrative that shows the shadow side of Europe and its asylum policies, the documentary is a mosaic of the lives, hopes, misadventures, violence and disappointments that the very young protagonists must face in order to reach Europe, attempting to cross the border on foot. The young refugees travel hundreds of kilometers and often suffer abuse from border police, braving all weather conditions and risking being sent back to their starting point countless times. They call it "the game," and winning it is nearly impossible. Shadow Game is an experimental project, built together with the protagonists, who film long walks on foot with their cell phones. Often with the only company of the video camera to which they confide their homesickness, grief for lost people and dreams of a better future once they reach the final goal of the game: to arrive in Europe, seen through their eyes as a place of infinite possibilities, where they can study, find a job and live a pain-free life together with their family. The film won Popoli for Kids and Teens in 2022. (i.l.)

Tickets available for purchase at the Cinema Astra box office