The movie chosen for this task is Daphne Matziaraki's 2016 short documentary 4.1 Miles.
The 26-minute movie chronicles the struggles of Papadopoulos, a local coast guard, and his small crew on the Greek island as they brave the seas to assist migrants trying to escape war in their home countries. The docks that once adorned the calm waterways have been converted into improvised first-aid stations. The film brings to life the refugee crisis and the life-and-death circumstances that they face as they strive to stay alive and seek for a hopeful future away from the war-torn Middle-East.
2. Identify the people, places, events, or aspects of people, society, or nature that are the focus of this film. Describe and clarify the significance of each.
Notes:
The film is set in the waters surrounding the Greek island of Lesbos, a place that is about 4.1 miles away from the Turkey coastline. The turquoise sea holds terrified men, women, and children, trying to cross on fragile, dangerous boats. They are attempting to flee their home country in the Middle East and cross the borders to Greece. There are also many refugees coming in from Syria, where Russia bombings killing thousands of citizens have intensified. The Greek are the new hosts to the growing desperate immigrants, representing a hopeful future for the refugee population. However, Greece faces a new challenge associated with absorbing thousands of migrants who pose a threat to the stability that took the country years to achieve.
The film also focuses on the migrating refugees and the coast guards charged with the responsibility of helping them across. While the refugees are a depiction of the despair and hopelessness facing warring communities all over the globe, the coast guards represent the concept of humanity as they struggle to help the people with their meager and inadequate resources. There is a lot of death and suffering portrayed on the sea as people have their boats staling for hours, floating alone on cold and volatile waters. Others drown when their boats give in to the weight of passengers, or when bottoms of their rafts would tear away.
3. List three facts described/presented in the film that impressed you and explain how each fact relates to the film’s premise or theme.
Notes:
Humanity, collective responsibility, and hope are three facts that impressed me about 4.1 Miles. Humanity and collective responsibility were portrayed by the coast guards, while hope was more apparent amongst those migrating. Previously, the coast guards were responsible for conducting normal border patrols. However, the influx of refugees had turned their activities into a rescue mission despite their lack of training and equipment for the exercise. The guards took it upon themselves, while they could have ignored and passed on the buck to the government of the land or other global humanitarian bodies. This goes hand in hand with collective responsibility which defines the choices that we make for ourselves and others. The refugee situation is often confronted with some reluctance. However, the coast guard has faced the crisis facing his jurisdiction with immediacy, thus presenting the world with a challenge. As the globe becomes increasingly interconnected and violent, every individual is faced with the choice to help save the life of a stranger or leave them to suffer. The world needs people who are like the captain, a true hero who takes responsibility and puts their life aside to help others. The migrating refugees portray hope. Despite the plight facing their home countries and the dangerous situation that they may face while attempting to cross the volatile sea waters, they are hopeful of making it to the end of their journey and having a better life in their new destination.
4. Nonfiction can enrich viewers in several important ways. Describe an aspect of the film that showed you something you hadn’t seen before, caused you to think in a new way, or helped you understand something more thoroughly than before. In addition, describe how it changed your thinking.
The scene that was unnerving and hard-hitting showed Papadopoulos’ boat filled up to capacity with frightened, crying children as the crew tried to pull others to safety. In the process, a mother and her two children fall back into the tremulous sea, and immediately there arise further feelings of desperation and tears. Eventually, the family is rescued though the children are unconscious. As the crew makes frantic efforts to resuscitate them, it occurred to me that I had never experienced a real situation like this. It was heartbreaking thinking that this was happening to real people. Often, we distance ourselves from such situations and feel sorry as we sit back in our comfort zones. This changed my thinking as I reflected on the fragile nature of life, and also helped me appreciate what I have and the peace that my country enjoys.
5. Was there anything that you saw or heard in the film that was unconvincing or which seemed out of place?
Notes:
The entire film was real and convincing. No scene seemed out of place but for the exceptionally shocking and horrifying experiences of the refugees.
6. What particularly appealed to you in the cinematic presentation of the film, such as the way in which particular scenes, images, or sounds were presented?
Daphne Matziaraki has presented the viewer with captivating footage, using sound and images to convey the message at hand articulately. For instance, she uses close up shots to show the faces of the people being ferried across the sea. As viewers, it is critical to see the facial expression of the refugees to understand the fright and despair they experience. Their eyes tell of the emotions that they go through as they hope to cross the turbulent waters safely. The pain is also evident on the captain’s face as he shares the suffering of those he is trying to save. Sound effects are used in conjunction with the images, where the screams, wailings, crying and the sound of the waters tell the viewer about what is happening. Some of the scenes are quiet as the viewers are given to chance to connect with the intensity of the harsh realities facing the migrants and the rescuers.
7. If someone asked you whether you would recommend this film, how would you respond? Fully explain your reasons.
I would recommend this film to a friend because it would teach them the basic realities of life. Encountering an experience of this magnitude would help them appreciate their lives, while also prompting them to be responsible for the plight of others, irrespective of their religion, nationality, race, or ethnic background.
Additional notes:
This is an excellent movie, and I applaud Daphne Matziaraki for bringing to light the plight of the refugees. It should serve as a wake-up call to all people, while also prompting the global community to take charge of its citizens.
