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.
Acting
Amir El-Masry's expressive eyes do all the talking.
Direction
Sharrock frames isolation like architectural comedy.
Writing
Dialogue so dry it could be Scottish weather.
Director
Ben Sharrock
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sharrock filmed on the actual Scottish island of Uist, using real locals as extras—some had never met a refugee before.
The oud becomes a character itself: damaged, repaired, finally played—a metaphor for Omar's own fractured identity.
GB
