Quiet Life
Sweden, 2018. A mysterious syndrome affecting refugee children is sparking concerns among doctors and politicians. Sergei and Natalia have been forced to flee from their native country after an attack that almost took Sergei’s life. They have settled with their two young daughters in Sweden, waiting for the Migration Board to decide on their Asylum Application. They try their best to lead a normal life. They work hard, send their kids to Swedish school, learn the language, submitting themselves to regular inspections from the authorities and hoping that one day, they will be Swedish citizens. But when their asylum application is rejected, Katja, their youngest daughter collapses and falls into a mysterious coma. Faced with a moral dilemma, Sergei and Natalia’s resilience will be tested. (Festival inforamtion, Venice, 2024)
“Quiet Life” is not always quiet at all. A family is seeking asylum, which is unfortunately denied. The rejection results in a mysterious coma for the two children - the so called “child resignation syndrome”. This incredibly dense film is clearly structured, the actors performances are deeply touching and stressful at the same time, and confront us with the hypocrisy of a so called human, but indeed a bureaucracy as cold as ice. By choosing this film we encourage people to think about human dignity, strengthen solidarity with asylum seekers, and promote our awareness for all kinds of rejection (photo: © Les films du Worso).