The Unforgettable, Firsthand Stories of the Millions Fleeing for Europe
Since 2011, millions of people have fled their homes in Syria and other countries besieged by violence, helping to fuel Europe’s largest migration crisis since the end of World War II.
On December 27, FRONTLINE presents "Exodus" – the epic, first-hand stories of refugees and migrants as they make dangerous journeys across 26 countries seeking safety and a better life.
This two-hour special draws on camera and smartphone footage filmed by refugees and migrants themselves – from inside a sinking dinghy on a route across the Mediterranean Sea where thousands have died, to the tents and fires inside Calais’s notorious “Jungle” camp.
Through its harrowing access and intimacy, "Exodus" vividly exposes a shadow-world of human traffickers exploiting the crisis for profit, how countries are handling the influx of people, and the challenges and choices these refugees and migrants face every day.
“Anyone can become a refugee,” says Hassan, a former English teacher who fled his home in Damascus, after he says he was beaten by government forces. “It’s not something which you choose, it’s something that happens to you.”
Hassan’s journey is one of several at the heart of Exodus. We also meet:
• Isra’a, a young Syrian girl who fled Aleppo with her family, including her disabled sister, after a missile destroyed their home.
• Ahmad, who fled Syria when his village was invaded by Islamist extremists, and who is trying to reunite with his wife and young daughter.
• Alaigie, a young Gambian man whose father recently died, and who dreams of reaching Italy and lifting his brothers and sisters out of poverty.
• Sadiq, who fled Afghanistan to escape the Taliban, and now wants to start a new life in Finland.
Together, their stories paint an indelible portrait of this global crisis, and what it means to be a refugee.
“I am a refugee, I am just like you, I have a family, I have dreams, I’ve got hopes…” says Ahmad. “I just want a peaceful life away from violence.”
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"Exodus" - Preview"
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CREDITS:
A Keo Films production for WGBH/FRONTLINE and BBC. The director is James Bluemel. The senior producer is Dan Edge. The executive producer for Keo Films is Will Anderson. The executive producer of FRONTLINE is Raney Aronson-Rath.
