Waiting is a group effort.
2020-09-28
N/A
104 min
An offbeat observation of refugees waiting to be granted asylum on a fictional remote Scottish island. It focuses on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by the weight of his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland.
There is something perfectly apposite about the title of this semi-comedic tale of four young Syrian refugees stuck on a remote, but curious and friendly, Scottish island whilst they await a decision on their asylum applications. Living in an unfurnished house they must reconcile their constant restlessness with their desire to integrate and to settle somewhere - whilst trying to adapt to the less the friendly weather conditions! The principle character is "Omar" (Amir El-Masry) who was once an accomplished musician, but since his migration has lost the motivation to play. It's only when his friend/agent/manager tries to convince him to play in the village hall, and after several rather amusing conversations from a phone box with his parents at home, that we think that maybe he might just get his oud out once again. It's a gently paced, frequently amusing observation of the effects of ennui on these men and it's not all happy endings either. Well worth a watch.
