My name is Jafar by Abdallah Al-Khatib (Director of Little Palestine)
WORK IN PROGRESS
90 min | Documentary | Color |16:9 | Syria, Germany
WORK IN PROGRESS
90 min | Documentary | Color |16:9 | Syria, Germany
Produced by Evidence Film
This feature-length documentary tells the harrowing story of Abdallah’s younger brother, Jafar, and the profound human struggles he is facing since his birth during the Iraq War in 2003—a conflict that inspired his name.
Jafar's journey spans multiple wars, including the Syrian conflict, where he witnessed the horrors of the siege imposed by the Syrian regime and the brutal rule of ISIS in the Yarmouk refugee camp. His ordeal continued with his arrest alongside their father in 2016 and culminated in his solitary flight to Germany at the age of 14.
The film focuses on the challenges Jafar faces in his new life in Germany, exploring how the traumatic experiences of war have deeply impacted his daily life and shaped his outlook. It examines how these experiences have fueled his anti-authoritarian stance, leading to repeated conflicts with German authorities, multiple imprisonments, and the eventual revocation of his residency rights. Despite being treated as a criminal by the German state, the film follows Jafar's determined efforts to break free from this vicious cycle and build a life beyond his past.
Through Jafar's story, the documentary sheds light on the shared experience of thousands of Palestinian children who witnessed multiple wars simply because of their heritage. It captures the plight of those who, like Jafar, have sought refuge in Europe after surviving the traumas of war.