"From Homs to Weimar"

Short film by Joana Castro and Marina Torrecillas, Bauhaus Universität Weimar.

This project emerged within the context of the Refugee Conversation course at Bauhaus Universität Weimar, inspired by the story of Yazan Alsabaa, a Syrian refugee currently living and studying in Weimar, Germany. Through an intimate documentary approach, we sought to explore themes such as forced migration, cultural resilience, and the process of building a new life far from home.

The narrative begins with a letter written by Yazan to his brother, who lives in Berlin, reflecting on family bonds and the separation caused by war. Yazan was born in Homs, Syria, and saw his childhood interrupted when the first bombings hit his city. Despite his desire to join his brother, who fled Syria by boat with two cousins, Yazan remained in the country with his parents for three years before eventually reuniting with his brother in Germany.

The concept for this project stemmed from the desire to give voice to stories like Yazan’s, which reflect not only the traumas and challenges of migration but also the strength found in everyday life, where cultural traditions and new experiences intertwine. The short film offers a glimpse into Yazan’s life and that of his friends from Gaza and Syria, celebrating shared moments and cultural resilience, exemplified in a traditional Syrian dinner at his home in Weimar.

Filmed with sensitivity and proximity, the project sought to capture moments of vulnerability alongside those of hope and reconstruction. More than just a personal testimony, From Homs to Weimar is a reflection on the universal experience of displacement, highlighting the importance of empathy, solidarity, and integration in a world where migration is an increasingly global reality.

This project was a deeply impactful experience, reminding us of the power of stories to create connections and amplify voices that are often unheard.