Writer-director Brandt Andersen’s The Strangers’ Case is a feature-length version of his short Refugee. Both are about the victims and refugees of the Syrian civil war. The feature tells five interconnected tales, including the one told in the short, each titled after the career of who it follows. Is there enough meat during this 103-minute runtime to justify expanding the original, or should it have remained a 23-minute experience?

“…the victims and refugees of the Syrian civil war.”
The first plotline follows the resilient Amira (Yasmine Al Massri), who bravely navigates the chaos of war while trying to protect her family. The destruction of her home becomes the catalyst for her escape from Syria with her daughter, Rasha (Massa Daoud). The second vignette introduces Mustafa (Yahya Mahayni), a loyal Syrian army soldier whose beliefs are shaken when a personal tragedy forces him to question his role in the war. These characters’ emotional journeys will surely resonate with the audience, evoking a strong sense of empathy.
“The Smuggler” section stars Omar Sy as a smuggler named Marwan. He’s the one who can get desperate Syrians into another country without much hassle and minimal danger. Marwan’s in it for the money, as he has a sick boy at home. Fathi (Ziad Bakri) is the focus of the next segment. He and his family escape an encampment and hope to make it to a boat that will ferry them to a better life in Greece. The final chapter is about Coast Guard Captain Stavros (Constantine Markoulakis). His relentless dedication to saving people out on the high seas is second to none, but an approaching storm threatens to hamper his best intentions.