Limbo
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Limbo
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Limbo is an excellent British drama with comedic moments, but also racist language and some upset. Omar (Amir El-Masry) is one of a group of refugees -- all single men -- who are housed on a remote Scottish island while they wait to find out if they have been granted asylum to the U.K.. The hopelessness of the men's situation is tapered by laugh-out-loud moments, often courtesy of Omar's friend and fellow refugee, Farhad (Vikash Bhai), who remains optimistic and encouraging. The refugees encounter mixed reactions from the locals. Inquisitive stares and racist language are common throughout, although the movie portrays this more as ignorance rather than anything more sinister. Other locals are shown to be more welcoming, but even they use racist language, such as the British slang term "Paki." There is also occasional swearing including variants of "f--k," "shite," and "balls." There are a number of references to war and people being killed. In one shocking and unexpected scene, a character is found frozen to death in a field. Characters frequently smoke, most notably Farhad who is rarely seen without a cigarette. For the most part, the movie is in English, but when Omar speaks Arabic, English subtitles are displayed. The movie is a refreshing take on the lives of refugees so rarely told or portrayed in the media or on-screen.
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What's the Story?
In LIMBO, Omar (Amir El-Masry), a promising young musician and a Syrian refugee, must wait on a remote Scottish island before finding out whether his request for asylum to the U.K. is to be granted. Living with fellow refugees from around the world, Omar begins to question his decision to leave his family behind as the monotony of his situation unfolds.
Is It Any Good?
Written and directed by Ben Sharrock in what is only his second directorial feature, this superb British movie, set on a remote Scottish island, is a film full of contrasts. Limbo is both about isolation and community. It's heartbreaking yet hilarious. Bleak but hopeful. In many ways, these counter-positions are encapsulated by the movie's two halves. The first half of the movie is littered with comedic moments as the absurdity of the refugees' situation plays out. But by the second half, and following an unexpected tragedy, the mood has very much turned as the monotony and boredom felt by Omar and his fellow refugees takes over, as they wait for a faceless institution to tell them if they can stay in the country or not.
Rather than jar, this change in emotional tack feels natural and in sync with Omar's own feelings. As each day passes, and after yet another phone call back to his family -- who are now living in Turkey -- Omar begins to second guess his decision to leave his country, and what little enthusiasm he had gradually drains away. It's not all bleakness and misery. Omar's fellow refugee and Freddie Mercury enthusiast, Farhad (Vikash Bhai), provides the comic relief along with odd couple Helga (Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Boris (Kenneth Collard) who ensure the men are all "prepared" for their integration into Western society. The opening scene in which Helga and Boris demonstrate to the men how to behave with women in a nightclub is laugh-out-loud funny. A story that is frequently portrayed in the news, Limbo adds a humane and untold element to what life as a refugee is really like.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Omar's situation in Limbo. How would you describe his experience? How would you feel if you were Omar?
Discuss some of the racist language used in the movie. Did the fact that it was often used in comedic situations make it less shocking? If so, why?
Talk about why refugees leave their countries. What are some of the reasons people make these, often dangerous, journeys? Are you a refugee, or do you know any refugees? How does Omar's experience compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 30, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: June 29, 2021
- Cast: Amir El-Masry, Vikash Bhai, Kwabena Ansah
- Director: Ben Sharrock
- Studio: Focus Features
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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The Flood
Tense, empathetic refugee drama; some peril and drinking.
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Dheepan
Powerful, violent movie about three Sri Lankan refugees.
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The Namesake
Fabulous immigrant-family saga to see with teens.
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