IN PERSON SCREENING
Set in ‘80s Syria, near the border with Turkey, Neighbours views village life through the eyes of the expressive and adorable Sero, a 6-year-old who is as inquisitive as he is innocent. A new teacher has arrived in his school with the goal of making strapping Panarabic comrades out of the Kurdish children. He uses the rod to forbid the Kurdish language, orders the veneration of Assad and preaches hate of the Zionist enemy- the Jews. The lessons upset and confuse Sero because his long-time neighbors are a lovable Jewish family.
With a fine sense of humor and satire, the film depicts a childhood which manages to find light moments between dictatorship and dark drama. Little Sero gets involved in dangerous pranks with his friends, and dreams of having a television so he can finally watch cartoons. But he also experiences how the adults around him are increasingly crushed by the despotism, violence and nationalism which surround them. “Neighbours is a beautiful film that richly observes a community while touching on global issues."
The film was inspired by the director’s personal experiences, and so his bitter-sweet memories connect the Syrian tragedy to the present.
"...a tender, humorous and at times devastating, coming-of-age epic."
WINNER! SF Film Critics Jury Prize - San Francisco Jewish Film Festival 2021