Resources: Dalya's Other Country

Dalya's Other Country tells the remarkable story of a family displaced by the ongoing Syrian conflict and explores a young life caught between highly politicized identities. In 2012, Dalya moved to the United States from Aleppo, Syria, as her country disintegrated in the wake of a horrific civil war. The film follows Dalya and her mother through what seems at first a typical immigration experience. However, they grow tense and anxious as the 2016 presidential campaign unfolds and candidate Donald Trump calls for restrictions on Muslim immigrants. As Dalya adjusts to her American life, she becomes comfortable testing her abilities: "It doesn't matter if have my hijab. I found out that I can do whatever." But the film also tells the stories of Dalya’s parents. For her mother Rudayna, the adjustment to life in the U.S. has been difficult. And Dalya's father, Mohamad Hassan, lives in Turkey and remains there partly for business reasons. But the true reason he and Rudayna are estranged is that he has taken a second wife.  

So while the film shows us a young girl's coming-of-age, it also highlights the challenges faced by older immigrants. We see Rudayna take a huge step towards opening up the possibilities of her life when she enrolls in classes at the local community college. She tells us, "I feel like I'm on a different planet...So many things to learn." The film ends on a note of restrained hopefulness, with Dalya’s graduation and her plans to attend community college in the fall; her mother’s acceptance into a BA program and her father’s apparently final decision to return to Turkey for good.  The future is uncertain, and Dalya is left to ponder what would have happened had she never emigrated.

Produced and directed by filmmaker Julia Meltzer, Dalya’s Other Country tells the story of Dalya and her family, “In 2012 Dalya and her mother Rudayna fled Aleppo for Los Angeles as war took over. Months before, Rudayna learns a secret that destroys her marriage, leaving her single at midlife. Arriving in LA, Dalya enrolls as the only Muslim at Holy Family Catholic High School. Can mother and daughter remake themselves while holding on to their Islamic traditions?”

Dalya’s Other Country was broadcast in June, 2017 on PBS’ POV, and more information about the film including and additional lesson plan is available at: http://www.pbs.org/pov/dalyasothercountry/film-description/.  

Presented by Other Country Films, the film is currently touring theaters and festivals. Screening events are listed at:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/DalyasOtherCountry/events/

The film is available for purchase at:

https://www.dalyasothercountry.com/sales