Berlin Film Fest Entry ‘Yunan’ Inspired by Exile

Berlin, Germany – Filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin, originally from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, brings his deeply personal journey of exile and longing to the screen in his Berlin Film Festival competition entry, “Yunan.”

The film follows an exiled Arab writer (played by Lebanese actor Georges Khabbaz) who finds himself isolated on a remote German island, struggling with his past and identity.

A Story Rooted in Exile

Eldin, of Palestinian and Syrian descent, revealed that the inspiration behind “Yunan” comes from his own experience.

“My home itself became disconnected from its homeland, Syria… I cannot go there,” he shared.

The Golan Heights, where Eldin’s family originates, was part of Syria until Israel captured it in the Six-Day War (1967) and annexed it in 1981, a move not recognized internationally.

“It’s a homeland I don’t know. I’ve never been there. But it’s a home I fantasized about a lot,” Eldin added.

“Yunan” is part of a trilogy that started with his 2021 film “The Stranger.” The director has already begun work on the final installment, “Nostalgia: A Tale In Its First Chapters.”

Georges Khabbaz’s Experience in an Unfamiliar Role

Lebanese actor Georges Khabbaz, known for his role in 2007’s “Under the Bombs,” plays the lead in “Yunan” but was initially surprised by the offer.

“I don’t speak any German, so I was confused when I got the role,” Khabbaz admitted.

However, this linguistic and cultural unfamiliarity helped him connect with the film’s themes of isolation and foreignness.

“Being a stranger to the language, the place, and the people put me in an extreme state of strangeness, which helped my performance,” he added.

The film is set on a desolate island, adding to the visual and emotional impact of the character’s isolation.

Competing for the Golden Bear

“Yunan” is among 19 films competing for the Golden Bear, the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival. The winner will be announced on February 22.

With its powerful exploration of displacement and identity, “Yunan” has already sparked conversations about the meaning of home and belonging in today’s world.