Displaced men dream of Europe but are stuck on a Scottish island in Ben Sharrock’s spot-on sophomore feature
“A musician who doesn’t play music is dead” is an aphorism that gets mentioned several times in “Limbo,” but Syrian oud player Omar isn’t dead; he’s just stuck on an island off the coast of Scotland, hoping for asylum.
In writer-director Ben Sharrock’s exquisitely crafted sophomore feature, Omar is one of several men from around the world caught between past and future, between despair and hope, sustained only by the possibility of leaving families and cultures behind and creating a new home for themselves. In the meantime, there is waiting, there are English lessons, and there are “Friends” reruns.
Omar spends most of the film carrying around his bulky oud without being able to play it — like most of the metaphors in “Limbo,” it’s more graceful...
“A musician who doesn’t play music is dead” is an aphorism that gets mentioned several times in “Limbo,” but Syrian oud player Omar isn’t dead; he’s just stuck on an island off the coast of Scotland, hoping for asylum.
In writer-director Ben Sharrock’s exquisitely crafted sophomore feature, Omar is one of several men from around the world caught between past and future, between despair and hope, sustained only by the possibility of leaving families and cultures behind and creating a new home for themselves. In the meantime, there is waiting, there are English lessons, and there are “Friends” reruns.
Omar spends most of the film carrying around his bulky oud without being able to play it — like most of the metaphors in “Limbo,” it’s more graceful...
- 4/30/2021
- by Alonso Duralde
- The Wrap
Vikash Bhai (left) stars as “Farhad” and Amir El-Masry (right) stars as “Omar” in director Ben Sharrock’s Limbo, a Focus Features release. Cr. Courtesy of Colin Tennant / Focus Features
A young Syrian musician and a motley collection of other refugees wait on a remote Scottish island while the British government decides their asylum claims, in writer/director Ben Sharrock’s wry funny, poignant Limbo. Limbo paints a dryly comic, often absurdist tale of life in limbo, but it also takes us to unexpected places, just as their journey took to them to this unlikely spot.
Limbo features excellent direction, a tightly-crafted script, fine performances and stunning photography of the harsh, windswept island landscape. This smart, well-crafted film, both funny and touching, was a BAFTA nominee and a winner at the British Independent Film Awards and the Cairo International Film Festival.
The British government has sent this group of refugees to a distant,...
A young Syrian musician and a motley collection of other refugees wait on a remote Scottish island while the British government decides their asylum claims, in writer/director Ben Sharrock’s wry funny, poignant Limbo. Limbo paints a dryly comic, often absurdist tale of life in limbo, but it also takes us to unexpected places, just as their journey took to them to this unlikely spot.
Limbo features excellent direction, a tightly-crafted script, fine performances and stunning photography of the harsh, windswept island landscape. This smart, well-crafted film, both funny and touching, was a BAFTA nominee and a winner at the British Independent Film Awards and the Cairo International Film Festival.
The British government has sent this group of refugees to a distant,...
- 4/30/2021
- by Cate Marquis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"One wrong step and they will deport us." Focus Features has revealed the official US trailer for an indie trailer for Limbo, the latest from filmmaker Ben Sharrock (of Pikadero previously). This was selected for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, but premiered later at the Toronto & London & Zurich Film Festival in the fall last year. Nominated two times at the 2021 BAFTA Film Awards, Sharrock's Limbo is a "wry, funny and poignant cross-cultural satire that subtly sews together the hardship and hope of the refugee experience." Set on a fictional remote Scottish island, this follows a group of new arrivals as they await the results of their asylum claims. Amir El-Masry stars as Omar, a Syrian musician hoping to start his new life in the UK. The cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, and Kais Nashif. This one opens in the US first in theaters in April...
- 3/30/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
A favorite at Toronto International Film Festival last fall (where it premiered following being selected for Cannes), Ben Sharrock’s BAFTA-nominated drama Limbo takes a wry and poignant look at the refugee experience in a fictional remote Scottish island. Now set to arrive in the U.S. on April 30 via Focus Features and in the U.K. and Ireland on July 30 via Mubi, the latter have released the first trailer, which suggests it could be a strong double feature pairing with Aki Kaurismäki’s The Other Side of Hope.
Jared Mobarak said in his Tff review, “What begins as a modest and perhaps slight take on the refugee crisis tinged by an acquired yet welcome taste of British comedy, however, slowly reveals its underlying drama via the stark inevitability of its existence. You can only deflect from your plight so long before the stress and anxiety bubbles back to the surface.
Jared Mobarak said in his Tff review, “What begins as a modest and perhaps slight take on the refugee crisis tinged by an acquired yet welcome taste of British comedy, however, slowly reveals its underlying drama via the stark inevitability of its existence. You can only deflect from your plight so long before the stress and anxiety bubbles back to the surface.
- 3/29/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"How long have you been waiting?" Mubi in the UK has released the first UK trailer for an acclaimed indie titled Limbo, the latest from filmmaker Ben Sharrock (of Pikadero previously). This was selected for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, but premiered later at the Toronto & London & Zurich Film Festival in the fall last year. Nominated for Outstanding British Film and Outstanding Debut at the 2021 BAFTA Film Awards, Sharrock's Limbo is a "wry, funny and poignant cross-cultural satire that subtly sews together the hardship and hope of the refugee experience." Set on a fictional remote Scottish island, this follows a group of new arrivals as they await the results of their asylum claims. Amir El-Masry stars as Omar, a Syrian musician hoping to start his new life in the UK. The cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, and Kais Nashif. This looks like something truly special,...
- 3/26/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Focus Features will release Ben Sharrock’s two-time BAFTA nominated Limbo on Friday, April 30 in limited theaters.
The pic is a wry and poignant observation of the refugee experience, set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. Limbo received two BAFTA noms for Best British Film and Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
Sharrock spent time working for an Ngo in refugee camps in southern Algeria and living in Damascus in 2009 shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. There, he formed a network of friends whose personal stories inspired the film he wrote and directed.
Limbo stars Amir El-Masry (The Night Manager), along with Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi,...
The pic is a wry and poignant observation of the refugee experience, set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland. Limbo received two BAFTA noms for Best British Film and Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
Sharrock spent time working for an Ngo in refugee camps in southern Algeria and living in Damascus in 2009 shortly before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. There, he formed a network of friends whose personal stories inspired the film he wrote and directed.
Limbo stars Amir El-Masry (The Night Manager), along with Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Mubi holds UK distribution rights.
Focus Features has set an April 30 limited US theatrical release date for Ben Sharrock’s Bafta-nominated immigrant drama Limbo.
The studio acquired worldwide rights excluding the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand last month. Universal Pictures International will release internationally except in the UK, where Mubi holds rights.
Sharrock’s Cannes Label selection is nominated at the Baftas for outstanding British film and outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
Amir El-Masry stars as a young Syrian musician on a fictitious Scottish island awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.
The cast includes Vikash Bhai,...
Focus Features has set an April 30 limited US theatrical release date for Ben Sharrock’s Bafta-nominated immigrant drama Limbo.
The studio acquired worldwide rights excluding the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand last month. Universal Pictures International will release internationally except in the UK, where Mubi holds rights.
Sharrock’s Cannes Label selection is nominated at the Baftas for outstanding British film and outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer.
Amir El-Masry stars as a young Syrian musician on a fictitious Scottish island awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.
The cast includes Vikash Bhai,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Asylum drama has won prizes at Cairo and Macao.
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights excluding the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand to Ben Sharrock’s Bafta longlisted festival winner and Cannes Label asylum seeker drama Limbo.
Universal Pictures International will release internationally except in the UK, where Mubi will distribute. Focus acquired rights from Protagonist Pictures.
Sharrock wrote the screenplay about a young Syrian musician (Bifa nominee Amir El-Masry) on a fictitious Scottish island awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.
The cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, and Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, and Kais Nashif
Irune Gurtubai...
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights excluding the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand to Ben Sharrock’s Bafta longlisted festival winner and Cannes Label asylum seeker drama Limbo.
Universal Pictures International will release internationally except in the UK, where Mubi will distribute. Focus acquired rights from Protagonist Pictures.
Sharrock wrote the screenplay about a young Syrian musician (Bifa nominee Amir El-Masry) on a fictitious Scottish island awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.
The cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, and Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen, and Kais Nashif
Irune Gurtubai...
- 2/10/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Focus Features has taken worldwide rights, excluding the UK & Ire and Australia/Nz, to Cannes and TIFF 2020 selection Limbo.
Writer-director Ben Sharrock’s (Pikadero) well-received sophomore feature about the refugee experience is set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland.
BIFA-nominee Amir El-Masry (The Night Manager) stars in the drama which also scored BIFA nominations for Breakthrough Producer, Best Cinematography and Best Casting. Festival play also included San Sebastian, where it won the Youth Jury Award, and the BFI London Film Festival where it was runner-up for the Audience Award.
Supporting cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen) and Kais Nashif (Tel Aviv On Fire).
Sharrock...
Writer-director Ben Sharrock’s (Pikadero) well-received sophomore feature about the refugee experience is set on a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of new arrivals await the results of their asylum claims. It centers on Omar, a young Syrian musician who is burdened by his grandfather’s oud, which he has carried all the way from his homeland.
BIFA-nominee Amir El-Masry (The Night Manager) stars in the drama which also scored BIFA nominations for Breakthrough Producer, Best Cinematography and Best Casting. Festival play also included San Sebastian, where it won the Youth Jury Award, and the BFI London Film Festival where it was runner-up for the Audience Award.
Supporting cast includes Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen) and Kais Nashif (Tel Aviv On Fire).
Sharrock...
- 2/10/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Two Africans, an Afghan, and a Syrian walk onto a remote island in Scotland. The punch line potential is infinite. Writer/director Ben Sharrock knows it too as he places them all in the same cramped apartment with a “Refugees Welcome” banner outside so they can argue about the merits of Ross and Rachel’s “break” courtesy of a burned Friends box set left behind by whomever lived there last. Add an eccentric cultural awareness course led by a duo in Helga (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Boris (Kenneth Collard) who teach sexual harassment by having the former smack the latter’s intentionally handsy dance partner in the face and you’ll find yourself mimicking the class of foreigners watching in stunned silence thanks to the dryly humorous mix of confusion and horror.
Sharrock’s Limbo is very British in this way despite its multi-cultural cast of strangers in a very strange land.
Sharrock’s Limbo is very British in this way despite its multi-cultural cast of strangers in a very strange land.
- 9/13/2020
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
Protagonist is handling worldwide sales.
Mubi has acquired UK and Irish rights to Ben Sharrock’s Cannes 2020 selection Limbo, ahead of the film’s world premiere at Toronto later this month.
The company has picked up theatrical and streaming rights in the territory from Protagonist Pictures, handling world sales. Film4, which financed and developed the feature with Creative Scotland and the BFI, retains UK free TV broadcast rights.
Limbo is set on a fictional remote Scottish island where refugee arrivals await the result of their asylum claims. It centres on a young Syrian musician burdened by the weight of his...
Mubi has acquired UK and Irish rights to Ben Sharrock’s Cannes 2020 selection Limbo, ahead of the film’s world premiere at Toronto later this month.
The company has picked up theatrical and streaming rights in the territory from Protagonist Pictures, handling world sales. Film4, which financed and developed the feature with Creative Scotland and the BFI, retains UK free TV broadcast rights.
Limbo is set on a fictional remote Scottish island where refugee arrivals await the result of their asylum claims. It centres on a young Syrian musician burdened by the weight of his...
- 9/3/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Film now shooting in Scotland.
London-based sales outfit Protagonist Pictures has taken world rights to Ben Sharrock’s refugee drama Limbo, that is now shooting in Scotland.
The film is Sharrock’s second feature after Pikadero, which won the Michael Powell Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2016.
Limbo stars Amir El-Masry, whose credits include Jack Ryan, with Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Kais Nashif in a story set on a fictional Scottish island where refugees are waiting to be granted asylum. The film also features non-actors, including refugees, in small roles.
The film...
London-based sales outfit Protagonist Pictures has taken world rights to Ben Sharrock’s refugee drama Limbo, that is now shooting in Scotland.
The film is Sharrock’s second feature after Pikadero, which won the Michael Powell Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 2016.
Limbo stars Amir El-Masry, whose credits include Jack Ryan, with Vikash Bhai, Ola Orebiyi, Kwabena Ansah, Sidse Babett Knudsen and Kais Nashif in a story set on a fictional Scottish island where refugees are waiting to be granted asylum. The film also features non-actors, including refugees, in small roles.
The film...
- 10/16/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
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