In a world where politics and human suffering are intertwined, films remind us that the heart of the crisis is a human being, perhaps a child. This is precisely what the British short film Largo does. It not only tells the story of a Syrian refugee, but also delves into the depths of a child’s soul, taking the viewer on an emotional journey between the pain of loss and the dream of return.
Loss and Memory
The 19-minute film revolves around Syrian child Musa Zukari, who finds himself living in the suburbs of London under the care of a British woman after losing his parents in the midst of the Syrian revolution. The film focuses on Musa’s inner world as he desperately tries to reconstruct the concept of “home.”
More Than Just Wood
In response to this situation, Musa embarks on building a small boat—not just a means of transportation—but a symbolic masterpiece carrying within it all the meanings of hope, resistance, and longing. A project giving him a purpose to counterbalance the weight of his exile, and a tangible dream through which he expresses an overwhelming desire to return to search for his parents and the place he calls “home.”
The sea in the film embodies a complex duality—simultaneously representing the path to salvation and hope for arrival, as well as the danger, ambiguity, and countless fears that refugees face during their journeys. Through this symbolism, Largo transforms from a personal story into a universal one, reflecting the journey of millions.
Wide Critical Acclaim
Largo received widespread critical acclaim, for shedding light on the Syrian refugee crisis, but also for its unique way of presenting it. The directors avoided direct political rhetoric choosing to focusing on Musa’s individual and emotional experience, making the humanitarian issue more authentic and impactful.
Critics praised the film’s powerful symbolism, seeing the boat as an embodiment of resilience, and the choice to tell the story from the child’s perspective left audience’s with a simple yet earth-shattering existential question: ‘What if I were in his place?’
Artistic Credits and Achievements
Largo is directed and written by British filmmakers Max Burgoyne Moore and Salvatore Scarpa, and produced by British companies Plan Nine Pictures and Slick Films. It stars Kevin McNally, Tamsin Greig, and Michael Gibson.
The film premiered at the Indy Shorts Festival, a short film qualifying for the Academy Awards, and was then presented at the HollyShorts Festival in Los Angeles, where it received a remarkable response.
A Humanitarian and Educational Dimension
Largo’s success has not been limited to film festivals, but has extended beyond affecting a real-lives. The film is currently being used in several British schools as an educational tool promoting empathy and reflecting on concepts such as homeland, belonging, and asylum. This adds a profound human and educational dimension to its artistic success, affirming that true art touches the heart and stimulates thought.
