Childhood in conflict

I Am Sami’, the 10-minute film by Kae Bahar, who is originally from Kurdistan and lives in the UK is about a young boy living in a war zone. Sami’s father is ill and to support his family he chooses to sell dirty DVDs to the US military.

Time and again the terrorists ask him to join them, but he chooses not to. He also befriends Oscar, a US army man who becomes a good friend and customer of his DVD. It is war zone and the conflict is always round the corner, but comes to Sami’s doorstep when his friend Oscar ends up arresting his sick father. Sami is hurt by this breach of trust by his friend. “But I only did my duty,” says Oscar.

After watching the film that is brilliantly shot to begin with, one is left amazed with the screenplay that establishes several aspects of the sensitive and powerful story in such a short format.

Kae, who is enjoying watching the film along with the young audience says, “I just love showing my films to children.” He elaborates on the theme of the film, “Violence and war are the problems that are all around the world.

While war is big, the damage is done earlier, during child hood. Sami would love to have fun, lead a normal life, to be a child of 10-years, but he is forced to take some very difficult decisions in life that obviously make him become an adult at that young age.”

‘I Am Sami’ is about love and friendship as it is about the life of children in conflict zones, the danger that lurks round the corner for them and the choices that they are forced to take that changes the course of life for them.

“That’s why I tried to take all the landmarks away. This could be anywhere. We know there are two different cultures, but can’t they live together? Can’t they be friends? We are humans and so it shouldn’t be so difficult.”