Road to Return: A Drama Exploring the Struggle of Syrian Displacement
The city of Hama recently hosted a screening of the film ‘Road to Return’ (Tareeq al-Awda), an event organized by the Directorate of Culture in collaboration with the Cinema Club at the Youth Affairs Foundation. The film serves as a reflection on contemporary Syrian memory, shedding light on the narratives of displaced persons shaped by the hardships of the past years of the crisis.
Directed by Fadi Wafai with a screenplay by Suleiman Abdulaziz, the film captures the realities of daily life within displacement camps. It addresses the profound humanitarian and social consequences left in the wake of years of displacement. Categorized as a realistic social drama, the work explores critical issues such as family fragmentation, early marriage, school dropout rates, and the rise of child labor driven by the loss of breadwinners and significant economic pressures.
Fouad Kaid, the head of the Artists’ Syndicate in Hama and the head of the Theater Department at the Directorate of Culture, emphasized that the film tackles a sensitive historical phase. He highlighted the importance of its objective approach in resonating with various segments of society that have endured the repercussions of displacement and destruction. Similarly, Darwish al-Nassan, head of the Provincial Workers’ Union, noted that the film provides a condensed summary of the suffering endured by the Syrian people over the last 15 years, describing it as an emotional stimulus for reflecting on the paths of national reconstruction.
The audience engaged deeply with scenes depicting the scale of human suffering. Engineer Zoha Najjar expressed her appreciation for the cinematic presentation, noting that the film touches upon stories present in every Syrian household that has experienced loss, displacement, or detention, making it a dramatic document of a reality lived by many.
‘Road to Return’ stands as the first executive production of the heptalogy projects launched by the General Organization for Radio and TV Production following its structural reorganization. Initially developed as a dramatic heptalogy, the work was adapted into a cinematic version. It was previously screened at the Damascus Opera House before embarking on a tour across Syrian governorates. The initiative aims to raise awareness regarding social and humanitarian issues and to highlight their impact on the fabric of Syrian families.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
