Director and filmmaker Sam Abbas presents a poignant exploration of the migrant experience in his latest documentary, Europe’s New Faces. The film offers a humanistic portrayal of individuals navigating the complex and often perilous journey to establish new lives in Europe. In a landscape frequently dominated by sensationalist narratives, Abbas strives to depict the everyday realities faced by migrants, challenging the perception of them as mere statistics or threats.
Abbas divides the documentary into two distinct sections: “Land & Integration” and “Sea & Passage.” The first segment focuses on African migrants who have traveled through Libya and the Mediterranean Sea to reach makeshift settlements in Paris. These cramped living conditions, characterized by poorly maintained communal kitchens and bathrooms, serve as a backdrop for the formation of small, resilient communities. The stark imagery captured by Abbas reveals the harshness of their environment while also highlighting moments of intimacy and connection among residents.
The film’s tone is largely unromantic, featuring scenes that illustrate the mundane aspects of life in these squats. Viewers witness individuals engaging in everyday activities: a woman washing dishes while listening to music from her homeland, children playing in a makeshift pool, and a man teaching checkers. These snapshots of life serve to humanize the migrants, reminding the audience that they are not merely victims but individuals with aspirations and desires. A particularly powerful moment occurs when a migrant states, “I can’t pursue my dreams until I get my papers,” emphasizing the barriers they face in their quest for dignity.
In the second section, “Sea & Passage,” Abbas shifts focus to the challenges encountered on the journey itself. He juxtaposes scenes of armed migrant attacks with those of volunteers from Médecins sans frontières preparing for rescues at sea. The film captures the duality of hope and despair as volunteers wait on boats, discussing strategies while also finding time to relax. Abbas utilizes still photography to convey the sense of instability and urgency inherent in the migrant experience, further emphasizing the tension between their aspirations and harsh realities.
While Abbas’s method of storytelling is impactful, some critics note that the film’s pacing may feel slow at times. The decision to keep many individuals nameless and faceless, focusing instead on those listening to their stories, creates a unique perspective. This approach fosters a sense of shared experience, allowing the audience to empathize with the migrants’ struggles while also challenging the notion of the “perfect victim” often imposed on the displaced.
Abbas’s documentary serves as a counter-narrative to prevailing stereotypes about migrants, aiming to illustrate their humanity rather than reduce them to mere statistics or threats. The film encourages viewers to recognize the normalcy of life amid adversity, emphasizing that migrants deserve dignity not solely because of their hardships, but because they are fundamentally human.
Through Europe’s New Faces, Abbas invites audiences to engage with the lives of migrants in a way that transcends traditional portrayals, fostering a deeper understanding of their experiences and aspirations. In doing so, he advocates for a more compassionate perspective on migration, reminding us of the shared humanity that exists within each individual, regardless of their circumstances.
