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The documentary film MY WAY traces the dangerous “journey” of Afghan refugee Hussain Hussaini, who flees his homeland in search of safety and a better life. Accompanied by filmmaker Jakob Gatzka, he makes his way from Iran to Germany a second time.
MY WAY tells the story of the loss of his homeland through his individual fate, looks behind the scenes of an escape to Europe and follows the integration of the protagonist, who has grown up, into a new culture. Hussain survives the underworld of Athens and eventually finds his way to Germany – and a new home there? Today he works in Bavaria as a carer for the elderly.
The film was shot in five countries and countless interviews were conducted, including with Claudia Roth, Christian Ude, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Natalie Amiri, Gerald Knaus and many others, in order to shed light on the social and political debate in Germany. A film that invites discussion about the situation of refugees in Germany and raises questions about politics in Europe.
Funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, MY WAY was unanimously awarded the “particularly valuable” rating by the German Film and Media Rating (FBW) (Film ” My Way | Deutsche Filmbewertung und Medienbewertung FBW (fbw-filmbewertung.com) and won the award for best documentary film at the Filmtage Oberschwaben 2021.
Written and directed by Jakob Gatzka, edited by Barbara Toennieshen, picture design: Matthias Wallot / Stephan Zwickirsch / Mansur Klentzan, music: David Stein, songs: Pouya Raufyan, sound design and mixing: Tomas Bastian, filmsound, colour correction: Wolfdieter Gautzsch, B.O.A. Videofilmkunst / production: Jakob Gatzka / David Stein, Figurative Film / Josef Brandmaier / John Hörnschemeyer, Penned Pictures
Header image: Hussain Hussaini
In the press and on the net
Vistula director Jakob Gatzka on his film “My Way” – Dachau – SZ.de (sueddeutsche.de)
Hussain Hussaini: His way to Bavaria – Munich – SZ.de (sueddeutsche.de)
My Way – The Story of Hussain Hussaini (mywaymovie.de)
My Way – Production & Contact Info | IMDbPro
Jury statement
The FBW jury has awarded the film the rating “particularly valuable”.
An Afghan mountain village was home to Hussain Hussaini and his parents. When it was attacked by the Taliban, the family fled to Iran, where they could not live in safety either. When Hussain’s father disappeared without a trace, his mother had no choice but to let her son move to Europe.
His adventurous escape took him via Turkey, where he had to stay for a long time, by rubber dinghy to Greece. Even there, it took him two years to reach his destination of Germany. The country that became his new home after a long but successful asylum procedure. Hussain’s fate is representative of so many other dramatic stories of flight and is ultimately also confirmation of successful integration, which many others also fail to achieve. Over the course of many years, the author and director travelled to Hussain’s places of refuge in Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Greece, sometimes accompanied by Hussain himself. This gives the film a special authenticity and cinematic density and also creates an emotional connection for the viewer.
The statements by Claudia Roth, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Natalie Amiri, Minister Herrmann, Gerald Knaus, Claus-Peter Reisch and others, who not only talk about the nationwide refugee debate after 2015, but also very intensively about the urgent need for help and support in the integration of refugees and make a general appeal to humanity and compliance with the Geneva Refugee Convention, are a great asset.
When Hussain talks about the long duration of the asylum procedure, but at the same time is unable to attend language courses or work, the viewer gets an impressive picture of the sometimes desperate situation of refugees who, after a long and painful journey, have to tremble for ages before being deported before they are allowed to call Germany their new home. The scene of Hussain’s hearing at the BAMF is impressive. The scenes from the rehearsals for the musical theatre with people from many countries prove that refugees can also take the initiative themselves. A very touching private statement by a refugee aid worker also fits in perfectly.
The good camera work, certainly under difficult conditions, and the good sound work deserve praise. A precise script provided the skilful embedding of the respective statements in the film. This was also thanks to very good editing. Overall, the jury sees MY WAY as an important film that is emotionally moving, but manages to convey its important commitment in a very matter-of-fact and unagitated way.