Salam Neighbor (2015) User Reviews

Playing Refugee

[vanillabean349 · 8/10 · 26 April 2018]

I sincerely have mixed feelings about this documentary. On one hand, I appreciate the effort that these film makers have put in to revealing what life is like in a refugee camp, and telling the stories of the people who live there. However, I still have some major issues with the way in which they have gone about this project. At the beginning of the film, I was very interested in the idea that Zach and Chris would be experiencing life in Za'atari just as others in the camp do. I was disappointed when they began to explain that they would have a camera crew and a translator with them instead. From this point forward, it seemed like they were merely experiencing 'Za'atari lite', the refugee camp without the hardship and danger that goes along with it. In this way, some of the procedures they went through to register officially as residents in the camp became almost trivial. While Zach and Chris had all of their documents and IDs, often times people who have been forced to flee the fighting in Syria and elsewhere may not have these documents to present. They also received a tent, mattresses, food and other supplies from the UNHCR like any other refugees, but the crew also had other supplies packed for the trip which allowed them to be more comfortable than others in the camp. Even still, they were not allowed to stay in the camp at night due to the danger of being robbed or harmed. What about the people who don't have the choice to leave? Rather than experiencing the bitter cold of a desert at night, the crew was able to sleep in an office building in a nearby city. I can accept that it would be much more difficult to produce such a high quality documentary if they were to truly embrace the lifestyle that many in these camps have to lead, but I believe that they could have done more, like learning Arabic to interact with people in the camp in a more authentic way instead of using a translator, or learning more about cultural intricacies and manners before plunging themselves into the unfamiliar environment. Criticism of their 'American tourist' behavior is warranted. Despite my many reservations, I still believe that this film deserves some credit. After watching the documentary, I cannot deny that I was touched by its humanization of people within the camp and efforts to familiarize the viewer with the support efforts that these camps have been working toward. The people they chose to portray helped this image of innocence and relatability, (which is somewhat problematic in itself), but it allowed for the viewer to empathize. A documentary like this one can draw out support for organizations like the UNHCR and others, and it did just that. However, in its pursuit to tell the truth, it told half.

Decent Project

[bnair-14502 · 8/10 · 30 April 2018]

The aim of this documentary was to be able to document how exactly Syrian refugees lived since most of them were not able to cross borders to get to wherever they were trying to go. Thus, there were guys from the UNHRC that documented their time at this Syrian refugee camp by trying to live their life. Overall, they did a good job in trying to attain their goal, which was to raise awareness to the general public on how these people are confined to certain parameters are not really allowed to live their life to the fullest extent. They interacted with and got well acquainted with many Syrian refugees in order to better understand their life stories. They interviewed and got to know a variety of people at the camp. They got to know everyone from men to kids to women. Some people think that the people that ran this project and actually went to the refugee camp really made it all about themselves and really did not try to help these people. However, we can expect too much of these guys because no one is going to really understand the trauma and pain that these people have lived unless you were actually them. But for what they did and how they went about it, I think, made the project a success because they were able to successfully bring to people's attention how there are people suffering in this world that really need help.

Insightful Look into Refugee Life Though Not Without Its Problems

[eritchey-46322 · 8/10 · 24 April 2018]

Salam Neighbor chronicles the trip of two American documentarists to a refugee camp in Syria and their interactions with the refugees over a month's time. I think that the intentions of the filmmakers were genuine; I believe that they wanted to learn more about the lives of refugees and use this documentary to gain support for the refugees. I think that they toe the line of the white savior complex, but in my opinion, they never cross too much into that. Watching a film like this, one has to wonder about the motives of the men and their financial backing. Obviously, the refugee crisis has become largely a political issue, and this is them taking a political stance for the refugees. One could try and problematize this documentary for its politics, but I think that these men genuinely want to help the refugee crisis in Syria. They claimed that they were invested in the conflict before leaving the United States and seemed to form genuine bonds with some of the refugees during their time in the camp. While in the camp, they seemed keenly aware of the fact that they had a return date set and could be pulled from the project at any point if it became too dangerous. I think that these men were really invested in this project and trying to do something positive here.

This is not to say that the film was without some issue. It seemed that, despite knowing some information about the conflict, the men seemed ill-informed about some of the Syrian cultural norms and perhaps should have worked to understand these more before arriving in the camp and perhaps studied some Arabic. The scene when they tried to send the little boy to school was also troublesome. Once more, I think that they were trying to do something good and what they thought was logical because in the United States, children don't live within a war zone. I think it would have been a good idea for them to have taken a step back and considered why the boy might not have wanted to go to school before exposing him to this trauma once more.

Excellent, thought-provoking film

[mbvandeleur · 10/10 · 18 March 2016]

"Salam Neighbor" presents an insider's view of refugees living inside a camp as well as refugees trying to rebuild their lives in a new city. The filmmakers tell compassionate stories of Syrians forced to flea their home. All of the stories are compelling and give a small glimpse into the lives of these individuals--families walking through the night to escape, a father trying to provide for his family, women who gather together to support each other, and a young boy struggling to go to school. I came away with a new understanding of resilient people whose fierce struggles have not undermined their determination to live, love, and hope for the future--all people deserve dignity. I highly recommend this film.

In-depth look at an important issue

[davidjtemple · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

Like many people, I hear about Syrian refugees on the news all the time, but I've never really had an opportunity to dig in. It always feels like too heavy of an issue for me to really make a difference or wrap my head around it.

What I loved about this film is that it shows you what's happening to the actual people themselves — without getting bogged down in all the politics and history. If you'd asked me to describe what a refugee camp was like, I never could have told you anything before. Now I have a clear picture of what it means to be in a refugee camp — and the impact this is having on real people.

It's a fantastic film, I highly recommend it. I love that you get to know real people who are actually living in the camp. And it tells their stories without overly dramatizing them. The film lets the stories tell themselves.

I loved it. Definitely worth watching.

Not a ~terrible~ introduction to the Syrian refugee crisis

[acanaan-25253 · 6/10 · 20 April 2018]

"Salam Neighbor" is a failed attempt to show what it's like to live in a refugee camp in Syria. Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, with the permission and support of the UN, stay in the Za'atari refugee camp in Jordan, 7 miles from the Syrian border in order to inform the public about what living in a refugee camp is like. However, these men were not only uninformed on the crisis, only providing a few news snippets in the beginning to show there was a crisis but were also unaware of cultural norms and by coming from America and being backed by the UN, could never understand or accurately represent what living in a camp was like due to their own privilege. Yes, they stayed in a tent in the camp, but we never saw them actually suffer like many of those in the camp did. We never saw them waiting in line for food (except for once), they were not suffering from trauma or PTSD, and lastly and most importantly, they knew when they would get to leave and go home. One of the systematic issues that refugees face is that their displacement is treated as a temporary issue, but really is a permanent problem. Zach and Chris do cite the statistic that refugees spend an average of 17 years in a camp, but they did not accurately portray this issue in the documentary. If they had really wanted to portray what a camp was like, it would've been more useful to dedicate more of the film time to interviewing other refugees and getting their stories or spending more time with the refugees that they connected with. I will say, as much as this was not an accurate representation of camp life, it shows that Syrians as well as other people from the Middle East are not actually like how they are portrayed in the news. The documentary at the end focuses on providing dignity to refugees, allowing refugees to enter countries like to US and support countries that take in an influx of refugees, and trying to create a more permanent solution. While the documentary is not real to life for refugees, it appeals to the UN, donors, wealthy nations, and the public who are also not well-informed on the issues related to refugees but have the financial and/or political means to improve the situation for refugees. It is not a perfect narrative, but at its peak may be able to influence people to donate money and resources for the refugees, which frankly is better than nothing.

Zach and Chris are the new breed of Humanitarians of the 21st Century!!

[rumatenbrink · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

"Salam Neighbor" is simply brilliant and allows you to become immersed, as you watch this riveting and heart-wrenching documentary. Chris and Zach are dropped off smack-dab in the middle of the worst humanitarian crisis of our time since World War II. It is their genuine love of their fellow human beings that gives them the strength, courage and fortitude to take on these huge "let's eradicate poverty and solve world peace" types of humanitarian projects.

As you watch the film, you grow to love these incredible young film-makers and also feel so much emotion and empathy for the Syrian people that Zach and Chris are both honored to befriend. The Syrians are truly resilient people who have literally created "something out of nothing", as you will see when you drive down the "Champs-Elysee" with Zach and Chris as your tour guides. The Syrians are extremely loving and generous people and take care of Chris and Zach as if they were their own sons. You will meet so many incredible people on this journey and I promise you, you will never forget them. The impact of this film will stay in your heart and soul and possibly move you to do more to help our global neighbors. This is a must-see film for humanitarians of all ages! Follow Chris and Zach's lead and become the change you want to see in this world.

Important, timely documentary!

[kschmit-46178 · 10/10 · 18 March 2016]

I had the privilege to see this amazing documentary at my local movie theater recently. The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the most important issues facing our world right now. These brilliant young filmmakers have given us a valuable look into the experience of millions of Syrians forced to flee their homes, and goes beyond the statistics to demonstrate that each one is a person not so different from ourselves.

This is a film that deserves worldwide distribution immediately, while we have a chance to make a difference!

Check out their first film, Living on One, as well!

Wonderfully informative and impactful film

[ericahanson-48954 · 10/10 · 19 March 2016]

Salam Neighbor is a brilliantly constructed look at the Syrian Refugee Crisis and the broader plight of refugees worldwide. Every minute of this beautifully shot film had me thoroughly engaged and constantly learning. These filmmakers approach every situation with an openness and curiosity that is thrilling and insightful to follow. They bring you on their journey, exposing and connecting you to the people who are affected by this crisis, what they think, what life really looks like, what their hopes are, and mostly, how similar those hopes and dreams are to our own. No amount of media coverage has given me this quality of education and connection. I was left with a clearer understanding of the possibilities for improving conditions for these people. This film is an engaging and valuable choice for any age viewer.

White Saviour Complex

[azzurri93 · 5/10 · 3 August 2016]

the movie was not that bad but it was full of white saviour sentiments. it was clearly made for a western audience whose hungry for compassion and emotions. i'm not going to go in details about all the flaws in this documentary, but their creators seemed ignorant of the situation especially of the history and beliefs of syrian people, syrian people are some of the most educated people in the region, but the creators were condescending and were obviously under the idea that they are uneducated poor people.

i'll stop here because i'm not sure id i'm making any sense to be honest.

Powerful documentary that would be watched by all to open up their eyes to the severity of the Syrian Refugee crisis.

[lisalund-74107 · 10/10 · 19 March 2016]

Zach and Chris are truly amazing individuals, as can be directly observed through this documentary. Salam Neighbor opened my eyes to the depth of the Refugee Crisis. The fact that Zach and Chris actually stayed in the camp and lived like refugees, made it especially effective and powerful! As a result of this movie, I am now volunteering with IRC, a refugee placement organization in Seattle. It doesn't get any more Powerful than that!! This documentary, will help to spread the word of the extent of the Syrian Refuge crisis and get more people involved through either volunteering or with cash donations to organizations like IRC, International Rescue Committee. It is an excellent documentary on all levels.

Spectacular and important movie

[zoe-young · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

Salam Neighbor does a beautiful job of addressing a critical topic in an enlightening and personal way. The filmmakers/hosts, Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple do an incredible job of put a human face to the refugee crisis afflicting Syria and build a sense of humanity and global connection in a uniquely profound way.

In Salam Neighbor, American documentarians Zach and Chris move into a the largest Syrian refugee camp operating in Jordan, forming friendships and exploring the relationships of refugees choosing to live both within the camp and in the Jordanian cities surrounding. The depth of the connections they make by being so deeply embedded within the community create a poignant picture of the personal realities and struggles faced by refugees in this conflict and around the world. With tremendous humility and earnestness, the film tells the personal stories of a broad range of individuals swept up in the crisis in an unforgettable way.

Constantly touching, occasionally laugh out loud funny, undoubtedly tear jerking, and ultimately intensely moving, it is impossible not to come away from this film changed. This movie should be required viewing for absolutely everyone.

Touching and eye-opening film on the current refugee crisis

[grcoast · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

I recently saw Salam Neighbor at a local screening and was thoroughly impressed. The immersive documentary style allowed the viewer to watch the film through a humanistic lens. The film approached the current global refugee crisis in a way not seen in mainstream media, giving a refreshing, new perspective. Chris and Zach really did a terrific job showing what life in a refugee camp is really like and more importantly, who our refugee neighbors really are. Each of the refugees featured had an unique story to tell that can be related to people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. I left the film feeling the need to reach out and find ways to offer assistance to educate myself further on ways to help the mass of refugees out their in serious need of care.

Extremely eye opening film

[l_chhor · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

I had the privilege of seeing Salam Neighbor at The Capitol followed by a panel and Q&A with Chris, Zach, and several others. Salam Neighbor is a great representation of what Syrian refugees are living everyday. From a family of refugees myself, I loved that what my family went through over 20 years ago is now finally in film and being shown to people all over the world. Hearing about the refugee crisis isn't as life-changing if you hear bits and pieces over the news. Listening to the stories from the refugees themselves is extremely eye-opening. Salam Neighbor is a great film to watch for those who want to hear the refugee stories and learn more about them. My favorite part about the film was probably the fact it wasn't about Chris and Zach living in the refugee camp, but the people they were surrounded with. The film tells the story of the refugees and what their hopes are for the future. It gave me a better understanding of the life of a refugee and the struggles they have to face everyday. It is mind-boggling that Chris and Zach went from living on one dollar in Guatemala to living the life of a refugee. I would highly recommend watching this. Overall, it is a great film and I can't wait to see what Chris and Zach are going to come up with next!

Powerful and inspiring documentary

[alisaillo · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

Salam Neighbor is truly an inspiring film that opens your eyes to the truths about refugees. This powerful documentary follows refugees in Syria and allows the viewer to empathize with them. The story brings you on a heart throbbing/ tear jerking journey that makes you want to get up an do something about it. Before I saw this film, I didn't feel a connection to the refugees across the world. The media portrays refugees more of a burden rather than a serious situation that needs to be addressed. I found myself wanting to take action immediately and create a change. The film allows you to feel a connection with people hundreds and thousands of miles away. The documentary was extremely well shot and pieced together. I particularly loved the focus on a few main characters of the story. It allows you to develop a good sense of who these people are and realize that they are just like you and me, but happened to face a terrible situation in their homeland. This documentary gets a solid 10/10 stars, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants real information on the refugee situation happening all across our world.

Complicit in the White Savior Narrative

[erinaurielhendry · 4/10 · 20 April 2018]

The film Salam, Neighbor is an attempt at humanizing the Syrian refugee specifically refugees at Za'atari refugee camp. The film, however, failed to engage in a discussion of the nuances and contradictions present in refugee camps and ultimately displayed the way in which idealized Westerns often create issues in conflict areas. In the beginning, the documentary explores why the filmmakers, Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci, desired to make the film and the obstacles that emerged during the filming process. While having the filmmakers be part of the narrative is not problematic, this particular documentary perspective prevented an in depth discussion about the actual causes of the Syrian Conflict from being featured in the film. The beginning of the film, therefore, did not provide viewers with enough information about the people within the camp. Throughout the documentary, the filmmakers spent a significant amount of time discussing their own personal narratives and thus did not provide enough information on the true focus of the documentary-the Syrian refugees. The filmmakers also chose to focus on the ideal refugees such as children which promotes the problematic notion that only certain populations of refugees are worth saving. In the beginning of the film, Temple and Ingrasci are told that it is unsafe for them to reside within the camp, but the issue of safety is never again addressed in the film. Based on the precautions the filmmakers were forced to take, there is significant amount of risk resulting from living inside a refugee camp. Thus, some members of the camp population must not be as welcoming to outsiders as the refugees featured in the film were. The filmmakers chose not to address these concerns about the refugee population and instead promoted the idealized image of a refugee. The film, overall, contributes to the white savior narrative with the two filmmakers attempting to significantly change the lives of the refugees without considering the adverse impacts of their actions. Specifically, at one point in the documentary the two filmmakers cajole a young Syrian refugee into returning to school. Upon attending the refugee camp school, the young child has a breakdown, because he is forced to relive the traumatic event of seeing his school in Syrian being bombed. The filmmaker's inability to see the consequence of their actions before sending a child back to school demonstrates the lack of thought put into the project. The filmmakers put a young child in a mentality compromised situation in order to make themselves feel better about their actions. While the intention of the film, humanizing the Syrian refugee population, was admirable, the lack of forethought displayed in the documentary caused the film to be overall unsuccessful and disappointing.

Life in a refugee camp

[pattibeer · 10/10 · 17 March 2016]

Salam Neighbor is truly a life changing documentary. It gave me a new level of understanding and compassion into a world I couldn't even begin to comprehend before. Zach and Chris became a bridge that brought home the reality that behind the numbers we read about, are individual people with hopes and dreams. I highly recommend watching this film with others as it is a poignant conversation starter. The film continues to provoke questions of what can I do to get involved in finding solutions and awareness of the realities of the conditions that so many people are being forced to deal with - not only in Jordan, but around the world.

An engaging documentary highlighting our common humanity

[ldmuhtadi · 10/10 · 1 June 2016]

While world news continues to report on the atrocities of war in Syria, this important documentary film looks at the political crisis through a different lens that touches on our common humanity. We are introduced to life in Zaatari refugee camp, Jordan, and hear the personal stories of 5 Syrian refugees. We learn about the circumstances that compel people to flee their homeland; how hard it is for refugees to start a new life in difficult conditions; the dignity and strength that they strive for in their new lives; and the hopes and fears that they have for their future and their children's future. Salam Neighbor is a film that helps us understand that in a country where political turmoil and destruction is the order of the day, the people fleeing this conflict are merely looking for peace, friendship and a life worth living.

Informative and engaging look into a forgotten people

[ntaylor-28563 · 8/10 · 22 April 2018]

Salam Neighbor is a documentary that lacks in some aspects, however, overall thrives in depicting its message of caring for and noticing refugee populations. One feature the film depicted quite well was the refugee economy. These microeconomies are a very common feature within refugee camps around the world, and it was prominently featured within this film. The grasp of this economy, however, is what really stuck to me. This economy, filled only with refugees, was worth multiple millions of dollars and took up whole streets like a true market. What was truly surprising was that even smart phones and other luxury items were being sold to this crowd of people, often without a steady income or any income at all. By having refugees owning shops, buying real world goods, and trading with each other, these Syrians begin to rebuild an identity that was lost in the war. This film created an emphasis on the importance of holding a personal identity as a way of maintaining one's life. It can be easy to become depressed and lose hope within these camps, especially if you begin to identify yourself as a simple refugee receiving handouts. But this film depicted an active group of refugees, creating meaning within their existences within the camps. The example they emphasized was the women who created her own jewelry from the plastic bags within the camp. By seeing the garbage laying around the camp, it can be easy to think that the camp is a wasteland. However, she made the most of her situation and turned the land into art, and even profit. The film did a great job in this aspect, but it did lack in others. There was very little emphasis on some of the negative aspects within the camp and within the refugees themselves. They discussed some of the challenges within the camp, and the struggle for wealth and identity, but they only depicted refugees who were able to overcome these. For instance, they mentioned that they were not able to stay the night due to crime within the camp. This seems like a huge issue, but it was not discussed. Additionally, the amount of unemployment in the refugee camp is staggering, but again, we only saw refugees who were active, had jobs, and supporting their families. By ignoring these aspects of life, it made the camp appear to be a place where all refugees are ideal, but this is certainly not the case. The reason for ignoring this is likely to maintain their message of depicting a positive image of refugees for their audience, however, it does not represent a whole truth of the picture.

Such an important documentary

[jennynell · 10/10 · 9 May 2016]

I loved this film. It's a beautiful reminder of just how similar we all are. In the midst of war and hardship, these refugees show such courage and strength as they come together to create a community. Despite unspeakable loss, pain and fear, they've chosen to re-build their lives in a state of grace and peace, finding humor and a new sense of normal. This film explores so much more humanity than any news story could.

In the US we tend to rely on news stories and politicos who spread fear. The world refugee crisis feels so far from home. Yet it's impact is worldwide and far reaching. Salam Neighbor brings this crisis to our attention in a way that highlights the individuals who face this reality for years at a time. Through the film, we get to know the people behind the crisis. We get to know them as individuals who strive for the very same things we want for our own families. I could not help but think how easily one's circumstances could chanoge, how easily my life could change, and we, too, could be displaced. I could only hope to find myself surrounded by such good neighbors.

Heartwarming, eye-opening documentary about the refugee crisis

[anjelikaparanjpe · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

Honestly, this film blew my mind. I saw it at its world premiere in June 2015 on World Refugee Day at the AFI Docs film festival and was stunned by just how eye-opening it was. Salam Neighbor hits on the refugee crisis through staggering numbers, history and, most important, human connection. We see everyday life at a refugee camp through the eyes of Zach and Chris, and begin to understand that this whole crisis is ongoing -- and that more conversations need to be happening to incite change. I loved that they didn't just capture moments at the camp as outsiders, they really got involved with the people at the camp and embraced them as neighbors. This is a must-watch documentary. It will warm your heart and fire up your activist spirit!

The White Man's Burden heads to a Refugee Camp

[lmucha-44574 · 5/10 · 22 April 2018]

This film, although it highlights an important humanitarian crisis, purportedly focuses on Syrian refugees in the Jordanian refugee camp Za'atari, but the filmmakers insert themselves into the narrative so much that the documentary loses its way. These young documentary filmmakers, both white American men, have no knowledge of the region or language, but plan to "live like refugees" in the camp for a month. This is simply not possible - the men arrive with a translator, a camera crew, and backpacks full of clean clothes. They immediately make connections with the "locals," but often open old wounds because they lack a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by refugees. In all, there are most informative and complex films that depict the refugee experience.

Thought provoking and emotional

[alyssa-45316 · 10/10 · 29 March 2016]

Salam Neighbor is most definitely a film that hits close to home. My parents were both refugees and I have heard many stories about the struggle it is to be a refugee. I had the chance to take them to a showing of this film and they were both absolutely blown away by this film, it had them both in tears. I think that this is such a great film that should really be shown as much as possible because besides its educational value it also shows life of people just like us around the world and the problems they face when they have to flee from their homes and make a new life outside of what they know. This film shows the positive side of refugees and unlike many other documentaries it really has a genuine vibe to it throughout watching. I felt a personal connection with every story I heard in the film. It is a breath of fresh air to see a documentary that not only tell the facts but gets personal as well. Thank you Chris and Zach for this. I will 100% be sharing with friends and family!

An Honest Representation

[ncoudsi · 10/10 · 3 April 2016]

Refugee stories are often covered by speaking about them, rather to them. This documentary uniquely represents stories from the Zaatari refugee camps through a first- hand narrative. The filmmakers experience living as refugees themselves in order to report on them. If you are looking for an honest representation of the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, then this is the film to go to. Focused on the Zaatari refugee camp and Jordan, this documentary does an excellent job in highlighting on stories the mainstream media never shed a light on. This documentary humanizes the refugees, and calls for action. As a Syrian who have worked with Syrian refugees in various refugee camps, I can't recommend this documentary enough.

Eye-Opening

[missyhauser · 9/10 · 30 March 2016]

Like many Americans, I was relatively blind to the issue of immigration and forced departure that many Syrians have been experiencing over the past several years. Not only was I unfamiliar with the living conditions of the Middle East, but I was also unaware of the . The surrounding city that embraced thousands of Syrian refugees highlighted in Salam, Neighbor, truly brought a level of utter shock and amazement to my eyes as they were opened to the realness of this situation's calamity. The destruction and restruction that was illustrated here really blew me away. Each character has such a unique story of strength, heart wrenching pain, and this intangible hope that will change how viewers understand this worldwide catastrophe. For anyone who desires to be fully socially aware or sympathetic to these hundreds of camps across the desert, this film is a great educator.