Watch Dalya's Other Country

Dalya's Other Country is a heartwarming and enlightening documentary that explores the life of a Syrian family living in America. The film follows the story of Dalya, a 13-year-old girl who immigrated to Los Angeles with her mother, Rudayna, and older brother, Mustafa, from war-torn Aleppo. Through Dalya's eyes, we witness the struggles and hardships of adjusting to a new life and a foreign culture. Despite the challenges, the family remains close-knit, supportive, and deeply proud of their Syrian heritage. With strong bonds to both their homeland and the United States, they strive to bridge the gap between their old and new worlds.

The film takes us on an intimate journey of the family's joys and sorrows, successes and failures, as they navigate their way through a complex and changing America. We see the highs and lows of Dalya's life, from her first day of school to her high school graduation, as she grapples with the challenges of adolescence and the pressure to succeed.

Throughout the film, we also hear the voices of the family members as they reflect on their experiences and struggles. Dalya's mother, Rudayna, speaks candidly about the challenges of raising her children as a single parent in a new country, the constant worry about their safety, and the difficulties of living in a country that often views them with suspicion and hostility.

Despite the family's many challenges, they remain resilient and hopeful, and their deep love for each other shines through in every frame of the documentary. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of family, community, and resilience in the face of adversity.

One of the most powerful aspects of Dalya's Other Country is its exploration of the refugee crisis and the impact it has on families that are forced to leave their homes and loved ones behind. Through the eyes of Dalya and her family, we see the devastating effects of war and displacement, and the ongoing trauma that refugees experience long after they arrive in a new country.

The film also takes a nuanced look at issues of identity and belonging, as Dalya and her family struggle to find their place in a society that often views them as outsiders. The family's deep pride in their Syrian heritage is contrasted with the challenges of navigating a sometimes-hostile American culture, and the film captures the tension and contradictions of living in two worlds at once.

Throughout the film, Director Julia Meltzer employs a compassionate and sensitive approach to storytelling, allowing the family's experiences to speak for themselves. The result is a deeply moving and insightful portrait of one family's journey, and a powerful exploration of the complex issues that face immigrants and refugees in America today.

In conclusion, Dalya's Other Country is a remarkable and emotionally powerful documentary that offers a poignant reflection on the refugee crisis, the challenges of immigration, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through the lens of one family's story, the film provides a nuanced and intimate look at the complexities of identity, family, and belonging, and offers a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, understanding, and empathy in an increasingly divided and turbulent world.

Dalya's Other Country is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.