ZAATARI DJINN

NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE In Jordan a tent town called Zaatari has been erected in the middle of the blistering desert. It’s now home to refugees from the war in Syria. While it offers a roof over their heads, resources are scarce and the weather can be awfully harsh. Regardless, the community tries to make the best of things. The most resilient people are the kids, who make up over 80% of the town’s population. Some, like Miryam and Hammoudi, are able to survive through escapism via Shakespeare and material possessions. Others are struggling to adjust. The depressed Farras is forced to work hard, while troublemaker Fatma causes her mother grief with daily hijinks. Because of their innocence, the experience of war is different from a child’s perspective. Their spirits can be uplifted by turning paper into a soccer ball or insects into a zoo. ZAATARI DJINN tells the story of these four children from a point-of-view perspective, offering an intimate look at a day in their shoes. Despite the horrors around them, they are still beautiful little dreamers. (In Arabic with subtitles) – E.F.