Rashid, the Boy from Sinjar

Jasna
Krajinovič

(Slovenia/Belgium, 1967)
 Selected filmography: Summer with Anton (Un été avec Anton, 2012), Two Sisters (Deux sœurs, 2005), My Daughter Nora (Ma fille Nora, 2016), The Empty Room (La Chambre vide, 2016)

Teenage Rashid grows up in a Yazidi family in northern Iraq. As a child, he and his family were abducted by fighters of the Islamic State and spent several years in captivity. After returning home, he tries to find his place in life again and come to terms with what he experienced. The film follows his daily life in his hometown of Sinjar – time with family, work, and meetings with friends. Although he tries to live like other teenagers, the past keeps returning, shaping his decisions and view of the future. Rashid and his loved ones also never stop hoping that his missing sister will one day return. This sensitive documentary shows the strength of family, hope, and the courage to move forward. It offers a personal view of life after war and reminds us how important it is not to lose faith in a better future.