At a time when media attention surrounding the refugee crisis is at an all time high, rarely are news outlets providing us with direct insight into the issues facing those fleeing from their home countries as a result of war, religious extremity or oppression.
While facts and statistics are one thing, being granted access to the issues faced daily by migrants who are forced to uproot their entire lives for a chance of a better life is rare.
But this is exactly what fourth year media students at Glasgow Caledonian University Kristine Pfützner, Kristina Tamahkyarova and Saara Tuusa have done in their recent documentary as part of their final year project. Same As Another Person is a close and introspective film that follows the journey of women attempting to find refuge in Scotland.
The short documentary follows the life of Ayeh, an Iranian refugee with a talent for photography who travelled to Glasgow to break free from the prejudice and difficulties of her home country.
From re-learning customs to the evident differences in religion, Same As Another Person explores the journey a woman on her own must go through to feel free in another land while still being bound by interviews with the home office and the hardships of finding a home or opening a bank account as a refugee. Privileges that many of us take for granted.
The journey of Ayeh and fellow Iranian refugee Anahita breaks down the term “refugee” and shows these women as what they are: human beings. And just like the rest of us, they are armed with their own hopes, dreams and setbacks.
Same As Another Person showcases an informative account of a challenging subject and does so in a professional yet emotive way. It challenges stereotypes and sets out to provide a voice to those rarely given one, at a time when it is more crucial than ever.
Watch Same As Another Person here:
Featured photo credit: Mirna Pibernik
