The journey of the Kalaji family from Aleppo, Syria, to the United States is chronicled in Tanaz Eshaghian’s documentary, which takes its title from the fact that they may be the final refugees from the Syrian Civil War to be admitted to America, since they reach their destination in January 2017—just as the newly-elected administration of Donald Trump is devising methods to clamp down on immigration (even in cases of those fleeing persecution) and trying to institute a complete ban on refugees from certain predominantly Muslim countries. The Kalajis’ success, moreover, turns out to be only partial, since they are forced to leave behind their oldest daughter—who is pregnant—and are told that she might never to be able to secure permission to emigrate to the U.S., or even get a visa to visit. Eshaghian’s camera follows the family from their long stay in a Jordanian refugee camp through their efforts to make a new life in Philadelphia, where their housing subsidy runs out after only a few months and the family must find ways to make ends meet, taking menial jobs to survive yet thankful for the opportunity they have been given. The Last Refugees joins many other documentaries about the intractable Syrian conflict, but it stands apart from most in its powerful focus on a single family, as well as in its observations on U.S. policies that add to the suffering these people have already endured. A timely film, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
The Last Refugees
(2018) 40 min. In Arabic w/English subtitles. DVD: $349. DRA. Juno Films. PPR. Volume 33, Issue 4
The Last Refugees
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