Calgary Arab Film Festival

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Arabic with English subtitles

Rating: PG

Being born in the borderlands between two mortal enemies, they are literally trapped between two worlds: Syria, the country their more traditional parents have been faithful to since the occupation began, and Israel, the country that offers all the advantages of a hip youth culture, but where they will always be second-class citizens. The permission that young people from the Golan are given - to study in Syria for a while - puts them on the horns of a dilemma.

The close friends Ezat and Bayan have just finished secondary school. Years ago they decided that they would go to Damascus together to study. In the last week before their departure they cruise through the village in their car, drink farewell beers with their friends in the orchard and say goodbye to their families. They have no doubts: Ezat and Bayan feel they are fully Syrian and they are brimming with self-confidence about their search for their Arabic roots.

But Damascus proves to be an anonymous city of concrete where the boys no longer feel like kings. After a short stay with a Syrian aunt and uncle, who are almost complete strangers to them, they must make their own way for the first time, and find a place for themselves in this huge city. Their happy-go-lucky attitude starts to falter. They enjoy their new freedom, but sometimes feel lonely and rootless. On mothers' day, seven months after their departure, they see their mothers for the first time, but only in the distance. From the Syrian side of the border they take turns with the megaphone, one sentence at a time.

• Syria, Netherlands - 2011
• Documentary (85 minutes)
• Directors: Ester Gould and Sabine Lubbe Bakker