Limbo 2019

On a remote Scottish island, a group of refugees are kept in a sparse, temporary residence as they await the results of their asylum claims. At the center of the story is Omar, a Syrian musician who cannot work while his asylum process unfolds. He carries his oud with him at all times, a symbol of home and a craft that might sustain him in exile. Yet a hand injury casts doubt on his ability to play, adding tension to a life already upended. He relies on a pay phone to reach his parents in Istanbul, who share worries about his safety and about his brother Nabil. Nabil’s involvement as a soldier in the Syrian civil war adds an extra layer of strain, contrasting with Omar’s choice to leave the country. Omar’s parents encouraged his emigration to the United Kingdom in the hope that his music would preserve a crucial piece of Syrian culture. As the film unfolds, Omar’s father begins to question whether leaving behind the conflict might have been the safer path. Throughout much of the story, Nabil’s whereabouts remain unknown, amplifying the emotional tension for Omar and the family.

In the same modest, unsettled living space, Omar shares his room with three other men. Farhad, a Zoroastrian Afghan asylum seeker who idolizes Freddie Mercury, has been waiting for a decision for 32 months and even brings home a stolen chicken he names Freddie Jr. The other two are Abedi, a 17-year-old from Ghana, and Wasef, a Nigerian. Their shared space becomes a microcosm of displacement, blending small joys with persistent worry as they navigate a system that feels indifferent to their fate.

Daily life settles into a quiet routine, punctuated by awkward cultural awareness classes led by Helga and Boris. The men reveal their dreams and frustrations in these sessions and in the living room conversations that follow. Wasef harbors the dream of playing football for Chelsea F.C., while the others imagine futures beyond the island’s borders. They sense that being single men makes them a low priority in the asylum process, an injustice that colors their interactions and expectations. When they do find leisure, they turn to old episodes of Friends, a show that sparks spirited debates between Abedi and Wasef about relationships, loyalty, and the intricacies of love and trust.