“Home is like a turtle in its shell, you take it with you wherever you go.” A sentiment stated by Musa (Zak Elsokari), the protagonist in timely short film Largo and a sentiment that echoes through this warm, perilous tale.
Located by the white cliffs of a quiet UK based coastal town, Largo tasks itself with the mission of reuniting child refugee Musa with his estranged parents who reside in Syria. Musa’s foster mother (Tamsin Greig) the measured anchor responsible for his care.
Studio Goodluck craft an insightful work cleverly raising awareness to the alarming fact that there are 11 million child refugees worldwide, 1.3 million in Europe and 127,000 residing in the UK. Salvatore Scarpa and Max Burgoyne-Moore produce a thoughtful short, a film giving voice to young refugees as this is often missed, and depicting a determination to not only survive but to reunite with what was. Fused with the calm yet perilousness nature of the sea, Largo establishes its humanistic distinctive voice.
Both direct a vivid reality drawn from the interactions of a typical day, the marine landscape inspiring the film’s colourful , everyday aesthetic. Musa’s interactions with the local fishermen, fellow children and his foster mother drawing familiarity, humour, heart and that unrelenting determination to sail to Syria to reunite with family.
In a time where we address social issues and injustices, Largo humanises the statistics. This is an issue of humanity, not just a set community. A must watch.
Review written by Lucy Basaba.
Largo was shown as part of this year’s HollyShorts Film Frstival. To find out more about the film, visit here…
To read our interview with Salatore and Max, visit here…
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