L'escale

A few months ago the director learned that his cousin Moshen had left Iran illegally. Swindled by the smuggler, alone in Athens, he found shelter in the home of another Iranian, a man called Amir who left the country four years ago with the aim to reach Switzerland. Unfortunately for him, he was arrested in Athens. In order not to be sent back, he applied for political asylum in Greece. To make ends meet, Amir has converted a two-room basement apartment into a sort of ‘hostel’ for illegal Iranians, passing through in the hope of settling in Europe. Amir rents them space, feeds them, and above all guides and advises them, keeping a watchful, protective eye out for them. He constantly reminds them: "Don't let yourselves go, don't get bogged down, or else you'll end up staying here, like me! And there's nothing for you here". The obsessions to find a decent "border escort" or smuggler who can help them slip through police controls and cross borders without drawing the attention of customs agents, provokes incessant comings and goings between meetings with smugglers in neighboring areas and Amir's flat. Who will be the next one to get caught by an ID check and hauled in? That is the question that haunts the daily conversations in this place of fears, of respite, of laughter and tears, where lives are upset forever in a few seconds.

A few months ago the director learned that his cousin Moshen had left Iran illegally. Swindled by the smuggler, alone in Athens, he found shelter in the home of another Iranian, a man called Amir who left the country four year... Read more