um for most immigrants who have come to live in Britain they’re often asked the
live in Britain they’re often asked the
live in Britain they’re often asked the question where are you from I’ve been
question where are you from I’ve been
question where are you from I’ve been asked that plenty of times and it’s led
asked that plenty of times and it’s led
asked that plenty of times and it’s led me to question where am i from what is
me to question where am i from what is
me to question where am i from what is home is it a location is it the place
home is it a location is it the place
home is it a location is it the place where you were born
where you were born
where you were born is it a town a village a community or is
is it a town a village a community or is
is it a town a village a community or is it just a feeling and I think for me
it just a feeling and I think for me
it just a feeling and I think for me it’s about belonging and it’s about
it’s about belonging and it’s about
it’s about belonging and it’s about identity and it goes even deeper it’s
identity and it goes even deeper it’s
identity and it goes even deeper it’s about who we are as people as an
about who we are as people as an
about who we are as people as an immigrant myself I have been twice
immigrant myself I have been twice
immigrant myself I have been twice removed from my origins my father was
removed from my origins my father was
removed from my origins my father was born in India and in fact today is a
born in India and in fact today is a
born in India and in fact today is a really special day because it’s the 18th
really special day because it’s the 18th
really special day because it’s the 18th of November and today my father would
of November and today my father would
of November and today my father would have been 99 if he was still alive so
have been 99 if he was still alive so
have been 99 if he was still alive so it’s a very special day for me to be
it’s a very special day for me to be
it’s a very special day for me to be standing in front talking about my
standing in front talking about my
standing in front talking about my father so my father was born in India
father so my father was born in India
father so my father was born in India but at the age of 16 he went to Tanzania
but at the age of 16 he went to Tanzania
but at the age of 16 he went to Tanzania as part of the British colonial service
as part of the British colonial service
as part of the British colonial service to work and live out there ten years
to work and live out there ten years
to work and live out there ten years later in 1947 at partition his country
later in 1947 at partition his country
later in 1947 at partition his country India became Pakistan so suddenly he was
India became Pakistan so suddenly he was
India became Pakistan so suddenly he was technically homeless but actually he
technically homeless but actually he
technically homeless but actually he wasn’t because he was in Tanzania his
wasn’t because he was in Tanzania his
wasn’t because he was in Tanzania his new adopted home a place where he was
new adopted home a place where he was
new adopted home a place where he was living and working he fell in love with
living and working he fell in love with
living and working he fell in love with my mother and in time me and my siblings
my mother and in time me and my siblings
my mother and in time me and my siblings were born apart from this crazy haircut
were born apart from this crazy haircut
were born apart from this crazy haircut that my mum gave me it was a great place
that my mum gave me it was a great place
that my mum gave me it was a great place to grow up and we were happy there my
to grow up and we were happy there my
to grow up and we were happy there my father’s origins Pakistan was a distant
father’s origins Pakistan was a distant
father’s origins Pakistan was a distant place my grandparents lived there we
place my grandparents lived there we
place my grandparents lived there we kind of had warm fuzzy feelings about it
kind of had warm fuzzy feelings about it
kind of had warm fuzzy feelings about it and what was that how did that come
and what was that how did that come
and what was that how did that come about of having some kind of connection
about of having some kind of connection
about of having some kind of connection to a land so far away that I’d never
to a land so far away that I’d never
to a land so far away that I’d never been to I realized that even though I
been to I realized that even though I
been to I realized that even though I spoke English in school Swahili in the
spoke English in school Swahili in the
spoke English in school Swahili in the streets at home I spoke Urdu and that
streets at home I spoke Urdu and that
streets at home I spoke Urdu and that was a language that sort of connected me
was a language that sort of connected me
was a language that sort of connected me with a culture that I understood through
with a culture that I understood through
with a culture that I understood through my parents and
my parents and
my parents and that language so it’s all sorts of
that language so it’s all sorts of
that language so it’s all sorts of things that connects us to who we are
things that connects us to who we are
things that connects us to who we are and where we belong at the age of 12
and where we belong at the age of 12
and where we belong at the age of 12 we moved once again and I came to live
we moved once again and I came to live
we moved once again and I came to live in England
in England
in England Coventry the butt of many jokes I was to
Coventry the butt of many jokes I was to
Coventry the butt of many jokes I was to discover but actually Coventry was far
discover but actually Coventry was far
discover but actually Coventry was far from a joke it was the place where I
from a joke it was the place where I
from a joke it was the place where I learned to eat fish and chips in the
learned to eat fish and chips in the
learned to eat fish and chips in the newspaper walking in the snow it was
newspaper walking in the snow it was
newspaper walking in the snow it was where my neighbors and friends helped me
where my neighbors and friends helped me
where my neighbors and friends helped me understand what it was like to be an
understand what it was like to be an
understand what it was like to be an English kid to live in an England
English kid to live in an England
English kid to live in an England English environment and they made us
English environment and they made us
English environment and they made us feel at home to the point that this
feel at home to the point that this
feel at home to the point that this became my home England is my home and
became my home England is my home and
became my home England is my home and it’s allowed me to feel safe enough to
it’s allowed me to feel safe enough to
it’s allowed me to feel safe enough to then take on a career that takes me all
then take on a career that takes me all
then take on a career that takes me all over the world as a filmmaker I get sent
over the world as a filmmaker I get sent
over the world as a filmmaker I get sent to far-flung places and when I get there
to far-flung places and when I get there
to far-flung places and when I get there I have to immediately find myself a home
I have to immediately find myself a home
I have to immediately find myself a home I have to kind of familiarize myself
I have to kind of familiarize myself
I have to kind of familiarize myself with the language the culture the
with the language the culture the
with the language the culture the nuances and also immerse myself in other
nuances and also immerse myself in other
nuances and also immerse myself in other people’s lives
people’s lives
people’s lives and other people welcomed me into their
and other people welcomed me into their
and other people welcomed me into their lives and into their homes and through
lives and into their homes and through
lives and into their homes and through tapping this lifeblood of who they are I
tapping this lifeblood of who they are I
tapping this lifeblood of who they are I start feeling at home to be able to tell
start feeling at home to be able to tell
start feeling at home to be able to tell their stories so I thought what better
their stories so I thought what better
their stories so I thought what better way to talk about what home means to
way to talk about what home means to
way to talk about what home means to people but through these people who have
people but through these people who have
people but through these people who have met over the years making films about
met over the years making films about
met over the years making films about them one of the most recent films that I
them one of the most recent films that I
them one of the most recent films that I made it was a three-part series for the
made it was a three-part series for the
made it was a three-part series for the BBC called dangerous borders and it was
BBC called dangerous borders and it was
BBC called dangerous borders and it was about partition seventy years on and it
about partition seventy years on and it
about partition seventy years on and it was looking at how the people in India
was looking at how the people in India
was looking at how the people in India and Pakistan had formed their lives in
and Pakistan had formed their lives in
and Pakistan had formed their lives in those frontiers what had become of them
those frontiers what had become of them
those frontiers what had become of them so I traveled with a presenter from the
so I traveled with a presenter from the
so I traveled with a presenter from the South of Pakistan to the north over a
South of Pakistan to the north over a
South of Pakistan to the north over a five-week period my presenter of
five-week period my presenter of
five-week period my presenter of non-server his parents are from Pakistan
non-server his parents are from Pakistan
non-server his parents are from Pakistan but he was born in the Netherlands and
but he was born in the Netherlands and
but he was born in the Netherlands and has grown up in Burnley of all places as
has grown up in Burnley of all places as
has grown up in Burnley of all places as he Allah says Burnley and he says I say
he Allah says Burnley and he says I say
he Allah says Burnley and he says I say it wrong but he is from Burnley and he
it wrong but he is from Burnley and he
it wrong but he is from Burnley and he felt nothing but British
felt nothing but British
felt nothing but British so British that he even joined the
so British that he even joined the
so British that he even joined the British Army he was willing to die for
British Army he was willing to die for
British Army he was willing to die for his country Pakistan the land of his
his country Pakistan the land of his
his country Pakistan the land of his ancestors and his parents actually was a
ancestors and his parents actually was a
ancestors and his parents actually was a distant thing he pushed it aside why did
distant thing he pushed it aside why did
distant thing he pushed it aside why did he do that because he’s faced racism he
he do that because he’s faced racism he
he do that because he’s faced racism he was called a Paki at school he was
was called a Paki at school he was
was called a Paki at school he was beaten up for being a Paki so he just
beaten up for being a Paki so he just
beaten up for being a Paki so he just put that part of his life away at a
put that part of his life away at a
put that part of his life away at a distance and didn’t want anything to do
distance and didn’t want anything to do
distance and didn’t want anything to do with it he shut it off so then I took
with it he shut it off so then I took
with it he shut it off so then I took him on this journey and I just like to
him on this journey and I just like to
him on this journey and I just like to show you a clip this is at the end of
show you a clip this is at the end of
show you a clip this is at the end of the journey after our five weeks of
the journey after our five weeks of
the journey after our five weeks of having travelled over a thousand miles
having travelled over a thousand miles
having travelled over a thousand miles this is the realization that Adnan came
this is the realization that Adnan came
this is the realization that Adnan came up – I’m leaving Pakistan with a real
up – I’m leaving Pakistan with a real
up – I’m leaving Pakistan with a real sense of optimism for the future and not
sense of optimism for the future and not
sense of optimism for the future and not just for this country but for myself as
just for this country but for myself as
just for this country but for myself as a British Pakistani this is the end of
a British Pakistani this is the end of
a British Pakistani this is the end of my journey here in Pakistan it’s not the
my journey here in Pakistan it’s not the
my journey here in Pakistan it’s not the end of my relationship with Pakistan I
end of my relationship with Pakistan I
end of my relationship with Pakistan I feel more of a Pakistani and feel like
feel more of a Pakistani and feel like
feel more of a Pakistani and feel like it’s more of me and I feel that it’s
it’s more of me and I feel that it’s
it’s more of me and I feel that it’s just gonna get more and more deeper as I
just gonna get more and more deeper as I
just gonna get more and more deeper as I visit this country more to support me
so after those five weeks by engaging
so after those five weeks by engaging with people along that journey but non
with people along that journey but non
with people along that journey but non opened something up in his heart he
opened something up in his heart he
opened something up in his heart he opened a door that had been shut in the
opened a door that had been shut in the
opened a door that had been shut in the house that he knew but didn’t want to
house that he knew but didn’t want to
house that he knew but didn’t want to open this gave him a sense of belonging
open this gave him a sense of belonging
open this gave him a sense of belonging the familiarity of the smells the tastes
the familiarity of the smells the tastes
the familiarity of the smells the tastes looking like a lot of people around him
looking like a lot of people around him
looking like a lot of people around him but man suddenly discovered a home that
but man suddenly discovered a home that
but man suddenly discovered a home that he didn’t know he had that he’d put
he didn’t know he had that he’d put
he didn’t know he had that he’d put aside the next film that I’m going to
aside the next film that I’m going to
aside the next film that I’m going to talk about is called women weddings war
talk about is called women weddings war
talk about is called women weddings war in me this was a film I made about eight
in me this was a film I made about eight
in me this was a film I made about eight years ago with a young Afghan girl
years ago with a young Afghan girl
years ago with a young Afghan girl called nella waha Pyatt she was born in
called nella waha Pyatt she was born in
called nella waha Pyatt she was born in Afghanistan and fled Afghanistan because
Afghanistan and fled Afghanistan because
Afghanistan and fled Afghanistan because of war her parents brought her to safety
of war her parents brought her to safety
of war her parents brought her to safety in England and she grew up in Camden and
in England and she grew up in Camden and
in England and she grew up in Camden and for all intents and purposes she is a
for all intents and purposes she is a
for all intents and purposes she is a Camden girl in every way that you could
Camden girl in every way that you could
Camden girl in every way that you could imagine and but what what was
imagine and but what what was
imagine and but what what was interesting is that she actually thought
interesting is that she actually thought
interesting is that she actually thought that she was still very Afghan she
that she was still very Afghan she
that she was still very Afghan she identified with being Afghani and she
identified with being Afghani and she
identified with being Afghani and she just thought that I’m not really English
just thought that I’m not really English
just thought that I’m not really English and I’d like you to see this next clip
and I’d like you to see this next clip
and I’d like you to see this next clip this is now she’s 21 in London you could
this is now she’s 21 in London you could
this is now she’s 21 in London you could be whatever the hell you want and I love
be whatever the hell you want and I love
be whatever the hell you want and I love what being here has made me now wasn’t
what being here has made me now wasn’t
what being here has made me now wasn’t born in Britain she arrived here when
born in Britain she arrived here when
born in Britain she arrived here when she was six after her family fled war
she was six after her family fled war
she was six after her family fled war and violence in Afghanistan but growing
and violence in Afghanistan but growing
and violence in Afghanistan but growing up in London
up in London
up in London she’s always felt cut off from her roots
she’s always felt cut off from her roots
she’s always felt cut off from her roots I’m not English Afghan I don’t look
I’m not English Afghan I don’t look
I’m not English Afghan I don’t look Western by still have Asian skin so
Western by still have Asian skin so
Western by still have Asian skin so where the hell do I belong so for Nell
where the hell do I belong so for Nell
where the hell do I belong so for Nell to find out where she belonged even
to find out where she belonged even
to find out where she belonged even though she thought she was Afghan we
though she thought she was Afghan we
though she thought she was Afghan we took her on a journey to Afghanistan to
took her on a journey to Afghanistan to
took her on a journey to Afghanistan to see what would it be like to live there
see what would it be like to live there
see what would it be like to live there to make that her home what was it like
to make that her home what was it like
to make that her home what was it like to be a woman in Afghanistan so I took
to be a woman in Afghanistan so I took
to be a woman in Afghanistan so I took her on a journey to visit and meet women
her on a journey to visit and meet women
her on a journey to visit and meet women in different walks of life we went to
in different walks of life we went to
in different walks of life we went to prisons where women were locked up for
prisons where women were locked up for
prisons where women were locked up for just being with the wrong man for
just being with the wrong man for
just being with the wrong man for adultery there were some women who are
adultery there were some women who are
adultery there were some women who are in refuges who’d run away from unhappy
in refuges who’d run away from unhappy
in refuges who’d run away from unhappy homes the worst of it was we met women
homes the worst of it was we met women
homes the worst of it was we met women in
in
in burns unit in a hospital women who
burns unit in a hospital women who
burns unit in a hospital women who couldn’t bear being in unhappy marriages
couldn’t bear being in unhappy marriages
couldn’t bear being in unhappy marriages had taken tried to take their own lives
had taken tried to take their own lives
had taken tried to take their own lives in you know by burning themselves Nell
in you know by burning themselves Nell
in you know by burning themselves Nell was exposed to women’s lives in
was exposed to women’s lives in
was exposed to women’s lives in Afghanistan apart from the women who
Afghanistan apart from the women who
Afghanistan apart from the women who were victims or survivors let’s say she
were victims or survivors let’s say she
were victims or survivors let’s say she also met incredibly dynamic brave women
also met incredibly dynamic brave women
also met incredibly dynamic brave women who are challenging patriarchy in
who are challenging patriarchy in
who are challenging patriarchy in Afghanistan who were pushing the
Afghanistan who were pushing the
Afghanistan who were pushing the boundaries of what it is to be a woman
boundaries of what it is to be a woman
boundaries of what it is to be a woman they were trying to make changes to
they were trying to make changes to
they were trying to make changes to their country but in that journey I
their country but in that journey I
their country but in that journey I think now who went in there
think now who went in there
think now who went in there bombastically thinking that she was
bombastically thinking that she was
bombastically thinking that she was Afghan she suddenly realized that
Afghan she suddenly realized that
Afghan she suddenly realized that actually she was really British a lot of
actually she was really British a lot of
actually she was really British a lot of the things that she had taken for
the things that she had taken for
the things that she had taken for granted came to the fore and she
granted came to the fore and she
granted came to the fore and she realized that Britain had made her what
realized that Britain had made her what
realized that Britain had made her what she was today but she left humbled by
she was today but she left humbled by
she was today but she left humbled by these women you know whereas before she
these women you know whereas before she
these women you know whereas before she thought oh you know why are you wearing
thought oh you know why are you wearing
thought oh you know why are you wearing a hijab you know I wouldn’t get married
a hijab you know I wouldn’t get married
a hijab you know I wouldn’t get married to someone that my parents chose for me
to someone that my parents chose for me
to someone that my parents chose for me but by the end of it she realized that
but by the end of it she realized that
but by the end of it she realized that these women were heroines they were
these women were heroines they were
these women were heroines they were freedom fighters and she left having
freedom fighters and she left having
freedom fighters and she left having completely transformed as to where she
completely transformed as to where she
completely transformed as to where she belonged to see this final clip from her
belonged to see this final clip from her
belonged to see this final clip from her film the girls there a brave they don’t
film the girls there a brave they don’t
film the girls there a brave they don’t have a chance to be anything and you
have a chance to be anything and you
have a chance to be anything and you gave me that oh you so much and I never
gave me that oh you so much and I never
gave me that oh you so much and I never ever appreciated it I hope you have got
ever appreciated it I hope you have got
ever appreciated it I hope you have got your answer why we came here because of
your answer why we came here because of
your answer why we came here because of your safety apart from the fact that she
your safety apart from the fact that she
your safety apart from the fact that she realized what her parents had given her
realized what her parents had given her
realized what her parents had given her in terms of safety she also recognized
in terms of safety she also recognized
in terms of safety she also recognized that actually Britain afforded her
that actually Britain afforded her
that actually Britain afforded her opportunities that she wouldn’t have had
opportunities that she wouldn’t have had
opportunities that she wouldn’t have had if she’d stayed in what she believed was
if she’d stayed in what she believed was
if she’d stayed in what she believed was her home her new home had given her
her home her new home had given her
her home her new home had given her those opportunities to flourish as a
those opportunities to flourish as a
those opportunities to flourish as a woman and be dynamic be educated and
woman and be dynamic be educated and
woman and be dynamic be educated and become a TV presenter she’s won a very
become a TV presenter she’s won a very
become a TV presenter she’s won a very very successful presenter now with both
very successful presenter now with both
very successful presenter now with both Adnan and Nell they inadvertently
Adnan and Nell they inadvertently
Adnan and Nell they inadvertently discovered what their home was by going
discovered what their home was by going
discovered what their home was by going on these journeys you know it will be it
on these journeys you know it will be it
on these journeys you know it will be it for television but there are so many
for television but there are so many
for television but there are so many people who don’t have that choice and
people who don’t have that choice and
people who don’t have that choice and they’re forced out of their homes they
they’re forced out of their homes they
they’re forced out of their homes they get moved because of war
get moved because of war
get moved because of war disasters and you know in these last few
disasters and you know in these last few
disasters and you know in these last few years we’ve become all too aware with
years we’ve become all too aware with
years we’ve become all too aware with this mass migration of people from Syria
this mass migration of people from Syria
this mass migration of people from Syria Afghanistan African countries that
Afghanistan African countries that
Afghanistan African countries that people aren’t safe where they are and
people aren’t safe where they are and
people aren’t safe where they are and they have to seek new places that they
they have to seek new places that they
they have to seek new places that they could call home so I made a film this is
could call home so I made a film this is
could call home so I made a film this is about six seven years ago before the
about six seven years ago before the
about six seven years ago before the Syrian crisis a film for panorama called
Syrian crisis a film for panorama called
Syrian crisis a film for panorama called breaking into Britain we followed two
breaking into Britain we followed two
breaking into Britain we followed two journeys one from Afghanistan so we
journeys one from Afghanistan so we
journeys one from Afghanistan so we followed F Afghan migrants who are
followed F Afghan migrants who are
followed F Afghan migrants who are trying to come to Britain for a safer
trying to come to Britain for a safer
trying to come to Britain for a safer life and we also followed African
life and we also followed African
life and we also followed African migrants who are trying to get to
migrants who are trying to get to
migrants who are trying to get to Britain I spent three weeks in both
Britain I spent three weeks in both
Britain I spent three weeks in both journeys and along the way we met
journeys and along the way we met
journeys and along the way we met extraordinary people who had nothing
extraordinary people who had nothing
extraordinary people who had nothing they had left behind family they had
they had left behind family they had
they had left behind family they had left behind everything they knew and
left behind everything they knew and
left behind everything they knew and found themselves in very very difficult
found themselves in very very difficult
found themselves in very very difficult adverse situations crossing country
adverse situations crossing country
adverse situations crossing country after country looking for some kind of
after country looking for some kind of
after country looking for some kind of safe haven we we came across families
safe haven we we came across families
safe haven we we came across families who had to make doorways into homes for
who had to make doorways into homes for
who had to make doorways into homes for their little children three year old
their little children three year old
their little children three year old children 1 year old child later on as I
children 1 year old child later on as I
children 1 year old child later on as I got further down to Patras which is the
got further down to Patras which is the
got further down to Patras which is the place where most the migrants are trying
place where most the migrants are trying
place where most the migrants are trying to get across to Italy so that they can
to get across to Italy so that they can
to get across to Italy so that they can then have a smooth safe journey through
then have a smooth safe journey through
then have a smooth safe journey through the rest of Europe because there are no
the rest of Europe because there are no
the rest of Europe because there are no more rivers and seas to cross and I came
more rivers and seas to cross and I came
more rivers and seas to cross and I came across a bunch of young men who were
across a bunch of young men who were
across a bunch of young men who were trying to get onto the ships that were
trying to get onto the ships that were
trying to get onto the ships that were going across the migrants call this road
going across the migrants call this road
going across the migrants call this road their runway it’s where they hope to
their runway it’s where they hope to
their runway it’s where they hope to take off for a better life
take off for a better life
take off for a better life schway vouchers as whole groups take to
schway vouchers as whole groups take to
schway vouchers as whole groups take to the streets attempting to board the
the streets attempting to board the
the streets attempting to board the trucks in plain view of every one way to
trucks in plain view of every one way to
trucks in plain view of every one way to come as a the cuckoo deposit is on water
come as a the cuckoo deposit is on water
come as a the cuckoo deposit is on water so interesting to see how they were
so interesting to see how they were
so interesting to see how they were having to lie to their parents and
having to lie to their parents and
having to lie to their parents and pretend that they were having a
pretend that they were having a
pretend that they were having a fantastic time because if their parents
fantastic time because if their parents
fantastic time because if their parents found out that they were living in
found out that they were living in
found out that they were living in terrible conditions living in Orchard’s
terrible conditions living in Orchard’s
terrible conditions living in Orchard’s living on the streets they would be
living on the streets they would be
living on the streets they would be heartbroken
heartbroken
heartbroken and they would regret ever having sent
and they would regret ever having sent
and they would regret ever having sent their kids off seeking a better life
their kids off seeking a better life
their kids off seeking a better life from the war-torn country they were from
from the war-torn country they were from
from the war-torn country they were from the thing about these kids was that
the thing about these kids was that
the thing about these kids was that while we were there they lost their
while we were there they lost their
while we were there they lost their they’d lost their homes for what they
they’d lost their homes for what they
they’d lost their homes for what they hadn’t lost was their dignity and their
hadn’t lost was their dignity and their
hadn’t lost was their dignity and their hospitality when we’re filming with them
hospitality when we’re filming with them
hospitality when we’re filming with them they would bring oranges and apples for
they would bring oranges and apples for
they would bring oranges and apples for us because it’s what they would do in
us because it’s what they would do in
us because it’s what they would do in their home in Afghanistan and they
their home in Afghanistan and they
their home in Afghanistan and they didn’t forget that they maintained who
didn’t forget that they maintained who
didn’t forget that they maintained who they were through just that little thing
they were through just that little thing
they were through just that little thing of hospitality they didn’t lose their
of hospitality they didn’t lose their
of hospitality they didn’t lose their humanity and it was really touching for
humanity and it was really touching for
humanity and it was really touching for me to experience that there are others
me to experience that there are others
me to experience that there are others who don’t choose to leave their home at
who don’t choose to leave their home at
who don’t choose to leave their home at all at all but are driven out because of
all at all but are driven out because of
all at all but are driven out because of a natural disaster 14 years ago I was in
a natural disaster 14 years ago I was in
a natural disaster 14 years ago I was in akshay after the tsunami I went there to
akshay after the tsunami I went there to
akshay after the tsunami I went there to make a film to see what life was like
make a film to see what life was like
make a film to see what life was like after people’s lives had been completely
after people’s lives had been completely
after people’s lives had been completely destroyed flattened out people lost
destroyed flattened out people lost
destroyed flattened out people lost family members they lost everything
family members they lost everything
family members they lost everything that constituted home
that constituted home
that constituted home but except for a bunch of people who
but except for a bunch of people who
but except for a bunch of people who returned and I want you to see this clip
returned and I want you to see this clip
returned and I want you to see this clip this is Lompoc in our che province when
this is Lompoc in our che province when
this is Lompoc in our che province when the tsunami hit the mosque was the only
the tsunami hit the mosque was the only
the tsunami hit the mosque was the only thing left
thing left
thing left [Music]
[Music]
[Music] before the wave seven thousand people
before the wave seven thousand people
before the wave seven thousand people lived here only a thousand survived
six weeks later just a hundred of
six weeks later just a hundred of returned they are determined to rebuild
returned they are determined to rebuild
returned they are determined to rebuild their village and their mosque well the
their village and their mosque well the
their village and their mosque well the people of Lombok that mosque was their
people of Lombok that mosque was their
people of Lombok that mosque was their spiritual home if they saw it as a sign
spiritual home if they saw it as a sign
spiritual home if they saw it as a sign and it’s something that brought them
and it’s something that brought them
and it’s something that brought them back to that place so it was a location
back to that place so it was a location
back to that place so it was a location that they came back to but it was
that they came back to but it was
that they came back to but it was actually more than that it was about a
actually more than that it was about a
actually more than that it was about a feeling it was about a spiritual feeling
feeling it was about a spiritual feeling
feeling it was about a spiritual feeling of that mosque and no matter what the
of that mosque and no matter what the
of that mosque and no matter what the difficult situation was they put up
difficult situation was they put up
difficult situation was they put up their tents and they started building a
their tents and they started building a
their tents and they started building a community once again from scratch there
community once again from scratch there
community once again from scratch there were often children who were adopted by
were often children who were adopted by
were often children who were adopted by that other families who’d lost their
that other families who’d lost their
that other families who’d lost their children they were men and women who
children they were men and women who
children they were men and women who married each other and it just showed me
married each other and it just showed me
married each other and it just showed me that the human instinct to create family
that the human instinct to create family
that the human instinct to create family community a home is always there we
community a home is always there we
community a home is always there we never ever lose that no matter what
never ever lose that no matter what
never ever lose that no matter what hardship we go to it was humbling to see
hardship we go to it was humbling to see
hardship we go to it was humbling to see how they built their lives up over the
how they built their lives up over the
how they built their lives up over the four or five months that I filmed with
four or five months that I filmed with
four or five months that I filmed with them they were extraordinary they never
them they were extraordinary they never
them they were extraordinary they never gave up hope and it is something that I
gave up hope and it is something that I
gave up hope and it is something that I think it was there in all those people
think it was there in all those people
think it was there in all those people that I filmed with they never ever gave
that I filmed with they never ever gave
that I filmed with they never ever gave up hope the film that probably had the
up hope the film that probably had the
up hope the film that probably had the most impact on me this was called from
most impact on me this was called from
most impact on me this was called from clients Laos and it was made in 2004 a
clients Laos and it was made in 2004 a
clients Laos and it was made in 2004 a year after the invasion of Iraq and we
year after the invasion of Iraq and we
year after the invasion of Iraq and we went to film lots and lots of different
went to film lots and lots of different
went to film lots and lots of different conflicts in the world and I was forming
conflicts in the world and I was forming
conflicts in the world and I was forming with the Hmong who basically had fought
with the Hmong who basically had fought
with the Hmong who basically had fought with the CIA and the Americans during
with the CIA and the Americans during
with the CIA and the Americans during the Vietnam War
the Vietnam War
the Vietnam War and when the Americans lost and they
and when the Americans lost and they
and when the Americans lost and they left the new government in Laos saw
left the new government in Laos saw
left the new government in Laos saw these people as traitors because they’re
these people as traitors because they’re
these people as traitors because they’re decided with the Americans and these
decided with the Americans and these
decided with the Americans and these people fled into the jungles I spent
people fled into the jungles I spent
people fled into the jungles I spent three days trekking through this
three days trekking through this
three days trekking through this mountainous jungle to find these people
mountainous jungle to find these people
mountainous jungle to find these people who had been hiding for over 27 years
who had been hiding for over 27 years
who had been hiding for over 27 years still persecuted and still at war and
still persecuted and still at war and
still persecuted and still at war and the moment when I walked in is an image
the moment when I walked in is an image
the moment when I walked in is an image that I will never ever forget is
that I will never ever forget is
that I will never ever forget is probably the film that’s had the most
probably the film that’s had the most
probably the film that’s had the most impact in my life because it just showed
impact in my life because it just showed
impact in my life because it just showed how people who are even pushed out of
how people who are even pushed out of
how people who are even pushed out of everything they know there’s somehow
everything they know there’s somehow
everything they know there’s somehow wait
wait
wait to have some kind of hope in their lives
to have some kind of hope in their lives
to have some kind of hope in their lives and to go back to the what they know is
and to go back to the what they know is
and to go back to the what they know is their home we were the first outsiders
their home we were the first outsiders
their home we were the first outsiders that had seen in 20 years they’ve been
that had seen in 20 years they’ve been
that had seen in 20 years they’ve been waiting to see someone from outside they
waiting to see someone from outside they
waiting to see someone from outside they just think that we’re the people who are
just think that we’re the people who are
just think that we’re the people who are gonna take back something and tell the
gonna take back something and tell the
gonna take back something and tell the world that it’s just so emotional I
world that it’s just so emotional I
world that it’s just so emotional I can’t even speak I think I realized on
can’t even speak I think I realized on
can’t even speak I think I realized on all my travels and filming with the
all my travels and filming with the
all my travels and filming with the amazing people along the way is that we
amazing people along the way is that we
amazing people along the way is that we here are lucky I’ve realized that by a
here are lucky I’ve realized that by a
here are lucky I’ve realized that by a twist of fate I have ended up living in
twist of fate I have ended up living in
twist of fate I have ended up living in Britain in a safe environment I realized
Britain in a safe environment I realized
Britain in a safe environment I realized that my life is a continuum and that
that my life is a continuum and that
that my life is a continuum and that continuum has allowed me to flourish as
continuum has allowed me to flourish as
continuum has allowed me to flourish as a person to do the things I want to do
a person to do the things I want to do
a person to do the things I want to do likewise with Adnan and Nell we have
likewise with Adnan and Nell we have
likewise with Adnan and Nell we have found a home in Britain and right now
found a home in Britain and right now
found a home in Britain and right now there’s lots and lots of people who are
there’s lots and lots of people who are
there’s lots and lots of people who are looking for safety and our governments
looking for safety and our governments
looking for safety and our governments are turning against those people even
are turning against those people even
are turning against those people even the British people have been hostile
the British people have been hostile
the British people have been hostile towards some of the refugees and I just
towards some of the refugees and I just
towards some of the refugees and I just say that having a home is the basic
say that having a home is the basic
say that having a home is the basic instinct in all of us nobody’s coming
instinct in all of us nobody’s coming
instinct in all of us nobody’s coming here to sponge off the system they’re
here to sponge off the system they’re
here to sponge off the system they’re just looking for safety and most of all
just looking for safety and most of all
just looking for safety and most of all they’re looking for a community to be
they’re looking for a community to be
they’re looking for a community to be part of to make it their home and
part of to make it their home and
part of to make it their home and contribute to it just the way I have
contribute to it just the way I have
contribute to it just the way I have Nell has an odd Nonna’s and I think
Nell has an odd Nonna’s and I think
Nell has an odd Nonna’s and I think these people need to be given a chance
these people need to be given a chance
these people need to be given a chance because I think they would bring a lot
because I think they would bring a lot
because I think they would bring a lot more to our society then people like to
more to our society then people like to
more to our society then people like to believe thank you
”
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