Double Feature: Limbo
| The Republic of Herrskog |
| An arresting study of exile and immigration, The Republic of Herrskog, directed by Hamed Alizadeh, is an intense documentary that reveals the difficulties associated with displacement and finding a new home in Herrskog, Sweden, a village that embraces the immigrants that move there from different countries. This short work exposes the powerful and poignant reality of how it feels to live in exile. The central character in the film is Stefan, who owns a small supermarket in Herrskog that welcomes all immigrants and refugees. His generosity, kindness, and eagerness to learn about different cultures and languages become the most moving aspect of the film. When he ultimately decides to close the shop, the immigrants with whom he connected are heartbroken. Despite its sharp and at times unsettling tone, the film does not hesitate to highlight the similarities between the demands of people from different cultures, rather than the differences.
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