This week, our Advocacy Blog focuses on a documentary film that follows young men travelling alone on the infamous Balkan route and tells their story across borders.
Shadow Game (2021), directed by Dutch filmmakers Eefje Blankevoort and Els van Driel, is an impressive documentary film which captures the lives of several youth who have fled their homeland and are seeking protection in Europe. They call their perilous journey across the Balkans to Western Europe ‘the game’ - a cynical term intended to motivate them to face the life-threatening challenges of their escape. The game consists of several stages divided into different categories, such as the ‘train game’ or the ‘running game’. For SK (15) from Afghanistan, the game is a mission they have to complete – failure does not mean giving up, but trying again next time.
The film brings us close to the lives of these unaccompanied minors who, with remarkable perseverance and resilience, attempt to cross European borders and fight against aggressive border police, raging rivers and snowy landscapes. While Mohammed (14) and Shiro from Syria are separated from their traveling companions, we see Yaseen (17) from Pakistan lovingly caring for a cat he has found.
These young people, some of whom document their journey on their mobile phones, experience the far-reaching and often cruel consequences of European asylum policy. Their perilous journeys often take months or even years, while they risk their lives and are forced to grow up far too quickly. Shadow Game is a portrait of young people on the move, providing an intimate insight into the reality of their lives.
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