Last night (March 26th), Mayflower residents had the opportunity to see and discuss a PBS video in our beautiful and comfortable Kiesel Theatre. The movie was “Children of Syria: One Family’s Journey to a New Life.” In the absence of Mayflower resident and retired English professor, Harley Henry, the discussion was led by Johnny Khuu, Mayflower’s Resident Intern.
The PBS “Frontline” film was about the millions of Syrians that have been fleeing the brutal fighting inside their country since 2011. They are seeking a better life in an exodus that has helped to fuel Europe’s latest migration crisis. Against this backdrop, “Children of Syria” is a story of sadness and survival, an exploration of identity, family, and the meaning of home. Filmed on the ground during the fighting, the documentary follows four Syrian children for three years, from their struggle to live through the Assad regime’s siege of their home city Aleppo, to the devastating kidnapping of their father, to the beginning of their new lives as refugees in Germany.
At the time of its filming in 2016, the six-year old Syrian War had a death toll estimated at 470,000 with thousands of refugees arriving in Europe every day. “Children of Syria” is a story of war, grief, hope, and what it means to start all over again. This is part of Mayflower’s work to keep important subjects in discussion.
— Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director