"In This World" is an interesting hybrid. By shooting this downbeat but surprisingly moving drama in the neo-realist style currently favored by many Middle Eastern directors — and with a digital-video camera — Michael Winterbottom almost manages to convince us it's a documentary.
Not that it necessarily needs to be. This tale of Afghan refugees is strong, thought-provoking stuff. It's must-see for those with an open mind about, or real interest in, the turmoil in the Middle East. And its examination of refugee issues and emigration has some real resonance, considering the continuing problems with illegal aliens in the United States.
However, the film is continually undercut by a rather strident musical score (courtesy of Mario Darianelli), which continually tries to tell us how we should feel about a particular scene or moment.
"In This World" isn't exactly the cheeriest of material to begin with, as it follows Jamal (Jamal Udin Torabi) and Enayat (Enayatullah), two Afghan refugees living in a camp in Pakistan. Both dream of better things and better places — London, to be specific. So they're fortunate when Enayat's father agrees to pay "people smugglers" to take them both out of the country and get them as close to England as they can.
It's a risky plan, especially considering world views on the Afghan people. And the overland route — which is supposed to take them through Iran, Turkey, Italy and France — is fraught with peril, including sandstorms, hostile border patrols and inhumane conditions.
Still, both are determined to give it a go, even after some initial setbacks have them back in Iran as soon as they leave.
Winterbottom has made an interesting choice by using digital cameras, and the point-of-view work adds extra grittiness and realism to the material, which is already strong to begin with. Also, his decision to use amateur actors has paid off handsomely — the fresh-faced Torabi is endearing and seems quite at home in front of the camera.
"In This World" is rated R for occasional use of strong sexual profanity, violence (gunfire and a scene of animal cruelty), brief gore, brief sex (a brief glimpse of pornographic images on the Internet). Running time: 88 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com