Alexandrois Avranas, director, "Quiey Life". A family drama, a political statement, a moral question to the world.
“Quiet Life“, the film by Alexandros Avranas, tells us about a little-known syndrome that affects children from refugee families, who cannot cope with the stress and problems related to their situation. It is called Child Resignation Syndrome, it is growing and there is no specific therapy yet to fight it. The film is included in the Orizzonti competition, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.
The syndrome as a metaphor
Alexandros Avranas recounts the reality but uses it as a metaphor for the general situation of refugees in the world: they are invisible and remain under the radar all the time, without anything being done, as in the case of the protagonist girl’s illness.
A political and moral issue
“Quiet Life” also poses a moral question and a political issue. What world are we leaving to our children, what will the new generations have to do to survive and have a dignified life? This is a question that Aleandros Avranas asked himself in making the film and it comes out forcefully.
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"Quiet Life", interview with the director Alexandros AvranasAngelo Acerbi
Sweden, 2018. A mysterious syndrome affecting refugee children is sparking concerns among doctors and politicians. Sergei and Natalia have been forced to flee from their native country after an attack that almost took Sergei’s life. They have settled with their two young daughters in Sweden, waiting for the Migration Board to decide on their Asylum Application. They try their best to lead a normal life. They work hard, send their kids to Swedish school, learn the language, submitting themselves to regular inspections from the authorities and hoping that one day, they will be Swedish citizens. But when their asylum application is rejected, Katja, their youngest daughter collapses and falls into a mysterious coma. Faced with a moral dilemma, Sergei and Natalia’s resilience will be tested. Can they summon hope to save their daughters?
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