A young immigrant pursues her American Dream in Johnny Greenlaw’s feature film, The Refugee. As a child, Eva (Dina Najjar) immigrated to the United States to live with her Uncle Ezekiel (Demián Castro) after her family was killed in an attack in Mosul during the Iraq war. Now, as an adult, Eva finds herself at a crossroads in life. She feels it’s time to move on and pursue her passions by working as an artist at a community theater in another town. Her uncle hoped she would work a more stable job at his flooring store, marry a nice Iraqi man, and start a family.
Determined to find her place in her world, Eva moves out and begins work at the theater, where she helps with its next production, which spotlights the global refugee crisis. Her knowledge of Middle Eastern culture comes in handy. She not only makes herself useful but becomes a valuable member of the team, particularly in the way she handles the play’s lead actor.
Just as things are moving in the right direction, Eva can’t help but remember her traumatic experience as a young girl in Iraq. Still holding the cross of the soldier who saved her life, Eva is determined more than ever to return that cross to her rescuer.
“…a young immigrant pursues her American Dream…”
With The Refugee, I can’t help but think it is nice to see a positive, uplifting story once in a while. As much as The Refugee is about Eva’s journey to become an American citizen, the film is about the American experience from the perspective of an immigrant. Though she faces instances of racism along the way, her journey remains hopeful and optimistic. There is a reason immigrants around the world want to come to America.
Tonally speaking, The Refugee was made for streaming and could be a family experience except for a few bad words and a make-out scene that would exclude very young viewers. The acting is on par with your Hallmark and Lifetime stories. Dina Najjar is captivating on screen. She carries the film from start to finish, and she is surrounded by a cast that is both serious and—in regards to the theater crew—a bit eccentric…a lot eccentric.
I do have to call out moments of improvement. The film could use a bit more energy overall. At times, lines feel like they are being recited instead of acted, but again on par with made-for-TV movies.
Writer/director Johnny Greenlaw’s The Refugee offers a refreshing, uplifting perspective on the immigrant journey, filled with resilience, heart, and determination. Eva’s story is a warm reminder of the strength and hope that fuel the pursuit of the American Dream. Despite a few hiccups in pacing and delivery, this heartfelt film leaves us inspired by Eva’s determined courage and her drive to find belonging and purpose in a new world.
"…filled with resilience, heart, and determination."
