Home / Arts and Entertainment / Oscar-Nominated Doc Follows Girl's Epic Odyssey
Oscar-Nominated Doc Follows Girl's Epic Odyssey
31 Aug
Summary
- Documentary chronicles a decade of a young Syrian's life.
- Film follows her journey from Aleppo through Turkey to Germany.
- It won two awards at Sundance, including a directing award.
The documentary "One in a Million" offers an intimate look at Israa's life from age 11 to 21, a decade marked by displacement and resilience. Co-directed by Syrian native Itab Azzam and Jack Macinnes, the film captures Israa's arduous journey from war-ravaged Aleppo, Syria, to Turkey, and ultimately to Germany.
This decade-long odyssey included perilous travel across the Mediterranean Sea and a challenging overland passage through Eastern Europe. The film, which received two awards at the Sundance Film Festival, including the directing award, explores the complex decision for refugees weighing opportunities abroad against the pull of returning home.
Azzam and Macinnes, who were in Damascus when Syria's civil war began in 2011, met Israa in Turkey in 2015. They were struck by her defiance and joy amidst devastation, inspiring them to document her story for "One in a Million."
