影子 Shadows

Synopsis

At a crowded airport, Ahlam, a 14-year-old mother, is running away from Baghdad, the only place she’s ever known. As she fights the shadows lurking around her, she reflects on her journey to reclaim her life.

Director’s statement

I have a recurring nightmare of running from a faceless man. When I plead for help, people ignore me. This reflects the normalisation of violence against women. Recently, a Jordanian woman named Ahlam was murdered by her father. Her name means “dreams,” like the protagonist of Shadows. Our Ahlam is a survivor. I met her while filming a documentary with teenage immigrant girls in Germany. She had run away from her family and wanted to share her story. Exposing Ahlam’s story posed ethical dilemmas, but her strength compelled me. Animation allowed us to recount her past and visualise her subjective point of view. Domestic violence and child marriage are rarely discussed unless tragedies occur. I want Shadows to expose injustices and pay tribute to Ahlam’s courage, highlighting her refusal to let her circumstances define her life’s journey.