Director Katrine Philp has known Salimah for around three years. A child refugee from Myanmar who has lived almost her entire life in Malaysia, Salimah started out as a character in Suitable, Philp's documentary about UN refugees, and the little girl made such a big impression on the director that she couldn't let her go.
"We meet a girl who in many ways has lived a completely different life than most Danish kids her age, but is still just an ordinary girl like everyone else." – Katrine Philp
Home Sweet Home follows now 10-year-old Salimah on her journey to Denmark to be reunited with her father and her older sister, who came to the country when she was only one. Salimah has been staying with her aunt in Malaysia, since she couldn't live with her violent mother. Now is Salimah's chance to get a new start with her dad and big sister, even though she has never really known them.
"I've been charmed by this little girl ever since I met her in Malaysia. Her story is so strong that it has to be told," the director says. With her camera, Katrine Philp follows Salimah as she navigates her life-changing transition – not only moving to a completely different culture, but also moving through an insecure and fragile stage in life.
"I am fascinated by the transformation that takes place at this particular age – a topic I have treated in several of my other films," Philp explains.
The director hopes that Home Sweet Home will draw attention to the experience of coming to a new society from a different cultural background.
"We meet a girl who in many ways has lived a completely different life than most Danish kids her age, but is still just an ordinary girl like everyone else. A girl who begins to take an interest in the boys in her class, in make-up and in the new hit by Justin Bieber. She's a teenager, with all that entails."
Home Sweet Home is selected for the IDFA Competition for Kids & Docs and is produced by Katrine A. Sahlstrøm for Good Company Pictures.
Home Sweet Home
Salimah is a refugee from Myanmar, who has been living in Malaysia since she was a newborn. Her father and her older sister fled to Denmark when she was only 1 year old, so she has been staying with her aunt in Malaysia ever since her mother remarried a violent man. Salimah is 10 years old when she gets a chance to be reunited with her father.
